Pelvic floor hypertension: possible factors for pelvic floor tenderness in endometriosis patients—a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is one of the main problems of endometriosis, leading to a significant impairment of quality of life. Understanding the pain mechanisms and the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) changes in these patients is essential to integrate additional therapeutic strategies. We hypothesize that endometriosis patients have changes in PFM and that targeted vaginal electrostimulation can be a treatment option for CPP in this disease.

Methods Fifteen patients with endometriosis and chronic acyclical pelvic pain were included. PFM electromyography with the Multiple Array Probe Leiden (MAPLe) was performed. Mapping of PFM was utilized and targeted electrostimulation of the hypertensive muscles was conducted. Control electromyography was performed afterward to evaluate the electrostimulation therapeutic effect.

Results In 12/15 (80%) patients, the myofascial trigger point could be localized by digital examination. The most frequently affected muscle was the puborectalis (10/15—66.7%). Most of the patients showed serious changes in the average resting tone (aRT) of PFM. aRT was significantly increased in all patients and decreased after stimulation, whereby the difference prior to and after stimulation was not significant (p = 0.064). The detailed separated analysis of the hypertensive muscles showed a significant (p = 0.026) reduction in their resting tone (hRT), after targeted stimulation.

Conclusion Vaginal electrostimulation is a promising and feasible complementary treatment option for CPP in endometriosis patients. Targeted treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction should be included in clinical trials.