MILLIONS of women who are plagued by endometriosis could see an end to their pain with a surprising treatment.
Researchers found that injecting botox into the pelvic muscles can help to reduce painful cramps caused by the condition.
Endometriosis is a chronic conditions and happens when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body.
Around one in ten women in the UK have endometriosis with 10 per cent of women worldwide suffering with the condition.
One of the main symptoms of the condition is painful cramps, which are caused by spasms of the pelvic floor muscles.
Many women take pain killers and will use physiotherapy to help soothe their symptoms.
Celebrities such as comedian Amy Schumer and former Love Islander Molly-Mae-Hague have recently opened up about their battle with the illness.
Experts at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development conducted a small clinical trial that found women could get 'meaningful' pain relief from botox.
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What are the symptoms of endometriosis you need to know
While it can be hard to get a diagnosis for endometriosis, you have a better chance if you know what to look out for.
Dr Philippa Kaye previously explained: "Endometriosis is different for everyone but a classic symptom is painful periods.
"If you have painful periods and you aren't sure when to see your GP the answer is when you can't manage the pain you are experiencing then it's time to get help."
While painful periods are the main symptom, there are 11 other signs you should know.
OTHER symptoms are:
- Pain during ovulation
- Pain felt in the pelvis
- Pelvic pain when not having sex
- Spotting
- Bad pain when you have a poo
- Bleeding from the bowel OR IBS type symptoms like diarrhoea and bloating which is worse around your period
- Pain passing urine
- Back pain
- Leg pain
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Depression
The experts administered thirteen women with 100 units of onabotulinumtoxin.
This was injected into the pelvic floor muscle spasm areaa.
Over a year after the injection, the patients were then monitored for pain intensity, muscle spasm and disability.
At the end of the year the pain medication the patients were on was also reassessed.
Before the injections, 11 of the 13 women had been suffering with spasms caused by the endometriosis.
Eight weeks after the injection, participants reported that the spasms were less prominent and less widespread.
Eleven of the women said their pain was 'absent or mild' and seven out of thirteen said they had reduced their pain medication.
Disability increased in six out of the eight women and relief lasted five out of the eleven months in seven patients.
The experts said: "These findings suggest pelvic floor spasm may be a major contributor to endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.
"Botulinum toxin injection may provide meaningful relief of pain and associated disability."
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