Understanding Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS, also referred to as Pelvic Venous Disease or PeVD) is a condition that causes chronic pelvic pain. AS many as 3 million women in the United States alone suffer from PCS, but many wait years for a diagnosis. In this post, we explain the causes and symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome, while highlighting tips for faster diagnoses and treatment options.

What Causes Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?

Women go through many life events, especially pregnancy, that can negatively impact vein function in the lower abdomen. This can also change the size and shape of the veins in the pelvis, leading to pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS.)

Symptoms of Pelvic Venous Disease

The main symptom is chronic pelvic pain that lasts for several months.  That pain tends to: 

• Get worse throughout your day, especially if you’re on your feet for a long time
• Cause increased pain during or after sex, or just before the start of your menstrual cycle

Many women notice that the pain of PCS improves when they lie down.

Additional symptoms of Pelvic Venous Disease/Pelvic Congestion Syndrome include:

• Visible, bulging veins in the pelvic region
• Bloating and/or abdominal pain
• IBS
• Lower back pain
• Hip and/or thigh pain
• Urgency with urination
• More frequent infections of the urinary tract
• Vaginal or vulvar swelling
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Depression and/or fatigue

Now, some symptoms of PeVD overlap with conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids. As such, many women struggle to get timely, accurate diagnoses. But help is possible: this is what you need to do.

Diagnosing Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

The first and most important step towards receiving a PCS diagnosis is keeping track of your symptoms and sharing them with a healthcare provider who you trust to listen to your concerns. (Too many women living with this condition hear their symptoms dismissed as a ‘normal’ part of womanhood. If your provider suspects PCS, you may undergo a pelvic ultrasound, MRI, CT scan or venogram to confirm the diagnosis.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for PCS

• Depending on the severity of your condition, you may be able to find relief with non-invasive treatments including:
• Medications that help shrink your affected veins.
• Medication that manages your pain.
• Pelvic floor physical therapy.
• Image-guided injections.

However, when these treatment methods fail to provide relief, you may also explore minimally-invasive procedures including pelvic vein embolization or venous stenting. You can learn more about these treatment options for pelvic congestion syndrome by contacting our team of specialists at Texas Endovascular to request a consultation [/tx-appt-link.]