The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to the discontinuation of pelvic Botulinum Toxin Injections (“pelvic botox”) as a treatment option within the ACT public health system.
Public pelvic botox procedures were introduced in the ACT in late 2023 but discontinued in early 2025, despite being routinely offered in other public health systems across Australia for a number of years, including at Westmead Hospital (NSW) and Gold Coast Hospital (QLD). This treatment is recognised nationally as an effective, evidence-based option for chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis. Pelvic botox injections relax pelvic floor muscles affected by chronic pain and tension, leading to reduced pain and improved function.
As noted by Dr Albert Jung, patients often benefit more from pelvic floor physiotherapy after this treatment, reducing the need for repeat surgeries such as laparoscopies. Leading experts — including Professor Jason Abbott, Dr Jason Chow, and Dr Albert Jung — support the safety and effectiveness of pelvic botox. Botulinum toxin is already used widely in other medical conditions such as migraines and urinary incontinence, and evidence shows low risk and strong clinical benefit in pelvic pain management.
The discontinuation of this service in the ACT is deeply concerning, especially given that several public patients experienced significant improvements before it ceased - some of which waited years for it to be available in the ACT public health system. With only one public trained specialist to do these injections, access was already limited — yet its early success demonstrates the urgent need to reinstate and expand this evidence-based treatment for ACT public patients.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly call on the ACT Government to reinstate pelvic Botulinum Toxin Injections (“pelvic botox”) as a crucial treatment option in the ACT public health system, and expand the number of trained public specialists who can do them.