Doctors treating women with Botox injections to ease crippling endo pain

It’s best known as a wonder wrinkle eliminator, but now doctors are using Botox injections to relieve another pain.

Katrina Moore has reason to smile again. Picture: Annnette Dew

It’s best known as a wonder wrinkle eliminator, but now doctors are using Botox injections on a rising number of women to relieve the pain of endometriosis.

Mater Private Hospital Brisbane gynaecologist Albert Jung said injections of the protein could significantly reduce pelvic pain and be life-changing for many patients.

Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus, causing severe pain in the pelvis, as well as bowel, bladder and fertility problems.

Almost one million Australian women suffer with endometriosis

“Botox is used to help relax muscles and when used in conjunction with pelvic floor physiotherapy, it can be very effective in treating symptoms of endometriosis, which is administered through an injection in the groin,” Dr Jung said.

“The injection goes through a large opening in the hip bone to target mainly the deep obturator internus muscles in the pelvic floor,” he said.

Dr Jung said that Mater patients are injected with Dysport, a brand similar to Botox.

Both Dysport and Botox contain botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyses muscles and helps ease pain. 

Dr Albert Jung is using Botox injections to treat endometriosis pain

Last year Dr Jung treated 40 women with injections to alleviate endometriosis-related pain.

He said the procedure is relatively low-risk and has a much better outcome than repeat laparoscopies.

Brisbane woman Katrina Moore, 47, had the procedure at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane in January this year and said the results were “life-changing”.

“My pain levels have easily dropped 75 per cent at least and I have gone from taking painkillers every day to maybe just a few times a month now,” Ms Moore said.

Ms Moore discovered the treatment option after having successful Botox injections to treat constant pain in her jaw and surrounding muscles.

“I started thinking if the same would help with my pelvic pain, did some research, and was delighted to find out my gynaecologist Dr Jung was able to help me with this,” she said. 

In 2022, the financial planner was bedridden for a year due to endometriosis and last year the disease left her unable to walk at times.

Mrs Moore underwent a laparoscopy in 2021 and a hysterectomy in 2022, before resorting to injectable treatments.

Ms Moore was not medically diagnosed with endometriosis until she was aged 40, despite years of trying to seek medical help for her chronic fatigue, pain and infertility.

Originally published as Doctors treating women with Botox injections to ease crippling endo pain