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Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) affects women causing a chronic dull pelvic pain and a feeling of pressure and heaviness in the groin. PCS is often associated with varicose veins in the lower abdomen, groin, and ovaries. This condition tends to affect women aged 20 – 45 with a history of two or more pregnancies but can affect women with no history of pregnancy.
The cause for PCS is an increase in pressure in the veins in the pelvic region. The blood in the pelvic venous system is unable to drain properly and the pooling blood causes an increase in pressure to occur, resulting in pelvic pain.
At VIC, You Don’t Have to Wait 6-8 Weeks to See Us. Our Providers Will See You In 3 to 5 Days – Without a Referral!
At VIC, You Don’t Have to Wait 6-8 Weeks to See Us.
Our Providers Will See You In 3 to 5 Days – Without a Referral!
Symptoms for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome can impact the quality of a woman’s life on many levels, both physically and mentally.
A patient experiencing symptoms is the first indication that there is the possibility of PCS. The formal steps in the process of diagnosis would be:
A patient would begin with the most minimally invasive treatment option, which is compression hose or shorts. If the wearing of these items does not alleviate the symptoms of pain/pressure, then the next steps would be endovascular diagnosis and therapy. A venogram is performed, under sedation anesthesia, where the pelvic veins are visualized. If the ovarian vein is dilatated with abnormal flow called reflux, then an embolization procedure would be completed. This essentially blocks the vein with a coil, a small metallic device, which reduces pressure and pain symptoms.
In the outpatient surgical setting, minimally invasive endovascular procedures can be performed with excellent outcomes for the patient. The benefits include:
While you cannot control what happens to the body, a patient knowing that they may be at a higher risk can take measures to avoid further difficulties.
The main symptom to be aware of is pelvic pain lasting for more than 6 months, often starting during pregnancy or after pregnancy, that also continues to worsen over time.
During a hysterectomy, the periuterine veins are removed, which are the offending veins causing the issue of PCS.
Typically pain and pressure worsen over time; frequent bladder infections, painful intercourse, and painful periods are some of the issues facing patients.
PCS is a chronic condition that requires a medical diagnosis where an endovascular procedure can relieve symptoms.
PCS is a condition often underdiagnosed affecting women between the ages of 20 and 5o who have had multiple pregnancies. It is estimated to affect around 15% of the US population.
