Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Symptoms: 3 Most Common

Have you been diagnosed with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome by your healthcare provider? Your head is probably swimming with questions. What is this medical condition and what can you expect from it? Many women suffer from this condition, yet it is commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

Let’s learn more about the disorder and what symptoms you might expect from it. Then we will explore how to deal with the disease so you can find the greatest relief.

What is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS)?

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome occurs when pelvic veins develop an unusual blood flow. This could be due to dilated pelvic veins or other abnormalities like leaky valves in the blood vessels. In come cases, blood is flowing backward or in reflux.

The underlying cause of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome isn’t always clear and there may be many causes for developing pelvic venous insufficiency conditions like PCS. Pregnancy seems to be a major contributing factor in many women. One theory is that hormonal changes and adjustments to the pelvic organs during pregnancy may add to the pressure placed on pelvic veins. This may be why women in their childbearing years are more commonly at a higher risk.

Pelvic venous congestion is usually accompanied by telltale symptoms. But that doesn’t mean that it is always easy to identify the medical disorder. Many of the symptoms are shared by other health problems and PCS may be overlooked as the cause. Medical doctors may need to conduct a lengthy diagnosis before settling on Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.

Let’s discuss the most often reported symptoms of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome sufferers. In doing so, we’ll see what you can expect with this health problem. And we’ll see that there is hope for relief.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain complaints are the most often reported class of symptoms for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. This pelvic pain may feel worse after long periods of standing or sitting and may be felt on both sides or just the right or left side of the pelvic area.

Many women can experience pain for months with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. They may also see an increase in pain after sexual intercourse. Especially if pain worsens after activity but lessens with a night’s rest, doctors may suspect PCS. Women often describe the pain as a dull ache but it can also occur as a sharp or radiating chronic lower abdominal pain.

Pelvic pain is a broad category. Doctors may at first believe it to be pain associated with menstruation or a serious condition called endometriosis where cells similar to the uterus lining grow outside of the uterus. Tests will likely have to be done to rule this out.

Varicose Veins

Another symptom of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is pelvic varicose veins. Varicose veins occur when veins become enlarged and twisted due to abnormal blood flow. Vein walls may become weakened and leak or valves in the vein may fail allowing the blood to reflux in the wrong direction. This leads to blood pooling in the veins.

In Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, varicose veins may become visible on the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs. They can also affect the ovarian veins. Risk factors for developing pelvic varicose veins match the risks for developing varicose veins in the lower extremities. These risk factors include:

• Age: As you age, the vascular valves that control blood flow can fail, causing blood to pool.
• Pregnancy: Hormone changes will naturally relax blood vessels’ walls making PCS more likely.
• Family History: Having a family member with varicose veins may indicate a genetic link to your vascular condition.
• Lifestyle: A sedentary activity level may decrease circulation and increase your risk of developing varicose veins.
• Smoking: Tobacco use restricts the size of blood vessels, increasing the pressure on the veins.
• Diet: High salt levels in your diet can lead to water retention, which affects veins.

If you have these risk factors or develop chronic pain in your pelvis, consider speaking with your doctor about what you can do to address symptoms and lower your risk of developing PCS.

Bowel and Urinary Problems

Besides chronic pelvic pain and varicose veins, another set of symptoms often seen with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome involves bowel and urinary issues. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a distinct condition but many of its symptoms are seen in PCS and the condition itself may be a symptom of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. IBS may cause:

• Abdomen Pain: Sharp, crampy, or burning pain
• Bowel Changes: Constipation, diarrhea, or both
• Bloating: Stomach that feels full or swollen

Many women report urinary symptoms with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. This may include increased frequency and urgency to urinate. Stress incontinence – uncontrolled urination when coughing, sneezing, or laughing – may be another effect.

Can You Prevent Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS)?

While Pelvic Congestion Syndrome isn’t preventable, there are things that you can do to lower your risk. Lifestyle changes that favor plenty of exercise and an improved diet will keep your vascular system at its peak health. Smoking cessation is another important step in reducing your risk of developing PCS.

Diagnosis of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

The diagnosis process can be long and involved for PCS. Pelvic Congestion Syndrome may require a differential diagnosis where other factors like ovarian cysts, urinary tract infections, and endometriosis are ruled out first. Generally, a doctor will perform a thorough physical exam and blood tests. A few imagining studies can also be performed.

• Pelvic Ultrasound: Sound waves are used in a non-invasive test to create images of the pelvic organs and blood vessels.
• Computed Tomography: The CT scan uses X-rays to generate cross-section slices of the body.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Strong magnetic fields align the atoms in the body while radio waves bounce off the atoms to produce a three-dimensional image.
• Pelvic Venography: A special X-ray test that highlights injected contrast dye. This is the gold standard for diagnosing Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.

Treatment Options for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome treatments will often focus on managing and relieving chronic pelvic pain and other symptoms. Medication may be the first method used as a treatment method.

• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help to reduce pelvic inflammation and pain.
• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate: Works the same as the natural progesterone hormone but with stronger effects. It helps to suppress ovarian function and increase venous contractions.
• Etonogestrel Implant: This long-term version of birth control produces progestin and can help with your menstrual periods’ intensity and significantly decrease pelvic pain.
• GnRH Agonist: This class of drugs prevents the ovaries from producing sex hormones that might make vascular problems worse.

If medications alone do not provide relief, healthcare providers may suggest surgical procedures to deal with symptoms of pelvic vein insufficiency.

• Ovarian Vein Embolization: A pelvic embolization intentionally closes the damaged vein to restore proper blood flow. A small catheter is inserted and guided to the damaged vein where a sclerosing agent is injected to collapse the blood vessel.
• Bilateral Salpingo Oophorectomy: In severe cases, a doctor may recommend a woman undergo a hysterectomy along with a bilateral salpingo oophorectomy procedure that will remove the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.

Living With Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is an often overlooked medical condition. But it is only too real for sufferers who experience chronic pelvic pain, varicose veins, and urinary problems. The symptoms of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome can be chronic and take a real toll on the mental and emotional health of women. Talk with your doctor to start the process of diagnosis and seek effective symptom treatments to get on a path to a pain-free future.