How to tell if you have pelvic congestion syndrome and when to seek help

Pelvic congestion syndrome (PC) is a frequently neglected cause of chronic pain In women, often confused with other conditions.

Recognizing the symptoms early is crucial for effective treatment.

Dr. Sophie Strong, Pelvic Pain Clinic Consultant Gynecologist from Whiteley Clinic, highlights this often diagnosed condition.

PCs, also known as pelvic venous insufficiency, stems from a defective blood flow in the pelvic veins.

“The easiest way to think about it is that they are essentially varicose veins that are inside the pool,” said Dr. Strong.

These veins, similar to varicose veins in the legs, become dilated and dysfunctional, leading to a feeling of pain or persistent trail.

Because these veins are internal, specialized analyzes are necessary for the diagnosis.

Although more frequent in women, PCs can also affect men. The Whiteley clinic underlines the importance of raising awareness of this condition to ensure a timely diagnosis and appropriate management.

What causes it?

“When you have a varicose vein, this valve does not work properly, so what is happening is that all types of blood and which fill and stretch the vein, and this creates heaviness, sensitivity and pressure,” explains Dr. Strong.

Varice tends to operate in families, but there are other risk factors, including pregnancy.

You are more likely to have PCs if you are between 20 and 45 years old and you have given birth more than once, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“Pregnancy can exert strong pressure on the veins system, and it is because your body carries so much more blood, and you have a very large mass that fills your pelvis, which affects the way valves and veins work with the return of this blood,” explains Dr. Strong.

What are the most common symptoms of PCs?

Symptoms experience depending on the location of the defective veins, but the characteristic sign is chronic pelvic pain.

“If those around the uterus and uterus Do not work properly and become very heavy and ample, which can give real feeling to chronic pelvic pain, “explains Dr. Strong.

“This can make the periods painful, and we also see people who have pain having sex, even pain after sex, because you essentially contact a painful and bruised area and contributes for space.”

The Cleveland Clinic website also stipulates that other common symptoms include frequent episodes of diarrhea and constipation (irritable intestine), accidentally peeing, in coughing or other movements that stress your bladder (stress incontinence) and / or pain when you pee (dysuria).

And, for some, the varicose veins are very visible around the vagina and the vulva.

“Sometimes they look like small blue structures appearance of black grapes,” adds Dr. Strong.

Why is it important to be diagnosed?

“Unfortunately, the varicose veins do not improve by themselves, so unless they are picked up, diagnosed and treated, they will only get worse,” explains Dr. Strong.

“What we see is earlier that you detect these veins do not work properly, so sooner you can get treatment earlier to prevent them from becoming so bad.”

GPs are generally the first call point, then you could be referred to a specialist.

“Typically [in our clinic] A patient would make an appointment with a consultant, who would take a complete story from them and examine them, then he would have a specialized scan called a duplex ultrasonic scan, “said Dr. Strong.

“We use a transvaginal duplex ultrasound scan, an internal vaginal scan, where we measure the blood flow through each of the different veins in the basin to identify those which do not work properly, and which can then tell you which veins should be treated.”

Can it be treated?

One of the most common treatments for PCs is the embolization of pelvic veins.

“This is a procedure of walking in the march which involves carefully placing tiny small coils, thinner than human hair, inside the damaged veins under the guidance of X -rays,” describes Dr. Strong.

“The coils cause a local reaction inside the veins over time, which closed it.

“The normal veins work much more effectively and do not cause pain because they have no reflux.”