What Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Treatment Is Right For You?

Finding the right pelvic congestion syndrome treatment can bring lasting relief from chronic pelvic pain and improve your quality of life. Imagine having to live with chronic pelvic pain – a dull ache in your lower abdomen – that just won’t go away. This is a reality for many women with a condition called Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS).

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life. However, with the right treatment relief from chronic pain is possible. Let’s explore the various treatment options open to address Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. We’ll see that there is a path forward for sufferers and a life beyond the constant clinical symptoms.

PCS – The Little Known Cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is a fairly common medical condition but is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. In PCS, dilated pelvic veins occur around the pelvic organs. This happens with blood flowing backward in the veins or due to other abnormalities in the blood vessels.

Enlarged veins can develop into varicose veins on the thighs, buttocks, or vulva. Much like lower extremity varicose veins, the pelvic varicose veins are a sign that blood flow isn’t working as it should. They can also be painful – a dull ache, heaviness, or a sharp pain in the pelvic area. Pain might be worse at the end of a long day of standing or sitting or after sexual intercourse.

Why is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome misdiagnosed? Because symptoms are often overlooked. It is a complex medical condition that isn’t fully understood. Due to multiple pregnancies or hormonal shifts, women of childbearing age may develop the enlarged pelvic veins generally associated with this disorder. Pregnancy causes anatomic changes in the pelvic region that could lead to increased pressure on the ovarian veins.

Having a genetic disposition or a family history of vascular issues like varicose veins is another risk factor. Weight gain can also put added stress on veins in the pelvis.

Most women who experience pain of this sort describe it as a dull ache. This mirrors other conditions like menstrual pain, bladder infections, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and endometriosis. So, well-intentioned doctors may miss out on the real cause of the pain, adding a delay to the treatment goal.

The First Step: Diagnosing Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Before treatment is possible, a doctor must arrive at the correct diagnosis. This can be a multidisciplinary team approach. Gynecologists, interventional radiologists, and primary care doctors may be involved in the path to a proper diagnosis.

Often Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is a differential diagnosis, meaning the healthcare professionals must arrive at this answer after ruling out other conditions. Two factors will weigh heavily into this search – symptoms analysis and imaging studies.

Symptoms Check

Women on the path of pain relief will first have to endure a physical exam to look for the telltale signs of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. Be honest with your doctor about pain and other symptoms you experience.

• Chronic Pelvic Pain: Persistent pain in the lower abdomen may occur for six months or longer. Your pain may be worse with sexual activity. If you don’t see significant improvement in pain over time, consider seeking the aid of a qualified physician for help.
• Varicose Veins: Ovarian and pelvic varices, or enlarged veins, are a common complaint in PCS. Dilated veins like this have weakened vein walls that could rupture or leak.

Imaging Procedures

Diagnostic and interventional radiology are another step in arriving at the PCS diagnosis. Here’s what you should expect in the way of imaging studies conducted on most patients.

• Pelvic Ultrasound: This non-invasive procedure uses sound waves to create an image of the pelvis area and nearby dilated pelvic veins to check your blood flow.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: The CT scan uses X-rays to create a cross-section image of the body. A narrow beam of X-rays rotates around the body to create picture “slices” of the body.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging: This is a more detailed image of the pelvic region. It uses strong magnetic fields to align the atoms in your body. Radio waves sent through the body knock into the atoms which create a detailed 3D image.
• Pelvic Venography: This specialized X-ray test involves injecting a contrast dye into the veins to highlight areas of pelvic varices. While more invasive, it is considered the top diagnostic tool in diagnosing Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Treatment Options

Doctors treat pelvic congestion syndrome with various methods, ranging from non-invasive to more invasive options. A patient’s medical history and current health help determine the recommended treatments.

Chronic Pelvic Pain Management

Chronic pelvic pain caused by pelvic or ovarian veins becoming swollen and twisted is the main symptom of PCS. These pelvic varices might be managed with medication. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can provide pain relief and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Doctors can use other classes of drugs that target estrogen levels to help your body improve its hormonal balance. Birth control pills or hormone therapy like gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists prevent the ovaries from producing sex hormones that can make vascular conditions worse.

Pelvic Venous Embolization Procedure

An interventional radiologist may perform an ovarian vein embolization or intentionally close the affected veins. This minimally invasive procedure can likely be performed on an outpatient basis. A small catheter is inserted into the femoral vein and guided up to the affected area with the help of X-rays. Then a sclerosing agent is injected to close off or collapse the offending ovarian and pelvic varices.

Surgical Treatment Options

More severe cases may require other procedures like surgery. This will be an option after other treatments have failed to provide pain relief.

Laparoscopic Ligation

Surgeons may perform ligation surgery to tie off abnormal veins and prevent blood from pooling in the pelvis. The ligation will usually focus on the ovarian veins, which are often the primary culprits causing Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.

When done laparoscopically, a tiny camera and specialized instruments are used to make the surgery minimally invasive. The procedure involves a smaller incision and less recovery time.

Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy

In the most severe cases, a doctor may recommend a hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. This procedure removes the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in one surgical procedure.

Conclusion

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome can be a challenging and painful condition. However, understanding the treatments available can make a difference in managing symptoms and improving your quality of life. Lifestyle changes, medication, and more advanced surgical options create multiple ways to address the root causes of PCS.

If you are struggling with chronic pelvic pain, it’s important to seek qualified medical advice and explore the treatments open to you. With the right approach, it is possible to alleviate chronic pelvic pain. Help is available, relief is within reach.