Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
What?
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome refers to a feeling of pain, discomfort or heaviness in the pelvis caused by dilated pelvic veins. Heavy periods and pain during intercourse can also be experienced.
Incompetent pelvic and ovarian veins can also be a cause of recurrent varicose veins in the legs and groin.
Why?
Similarly to varicose veins of the legs, the veins that drain the pelvis can become dilated and ineffective. This means that instead of being returned to the heart, blood pools in the veins of the pelvis, stretching the veins and causing swelling in the tissue resulting in pain and discomfort.
What can be done?
There are many potential causes of pelvic pain that need to be ruled out before pelvic congestion can be confirmed such as endometriosis, fibroids, inflammatory disease and malignancy. As such Dr Werner-Gibbings will always seek the advice of a qualified gynaecologist before diagnosing congestion syndrome.
If no other cause can be found, an ultrasound and CT will be arranged to demonstrate whether or not there is reflux in the pelvic veins.
If reflux has been confirmed, a venogram can be performed. This is a keyhole procedure usually under local anaesthetic in which contrast is injected into the veins to demonstrate the condition. After this coils and sclerosant are employed to seal the vein, preventing reflux and hopefully improving symptoms.