We order imaging tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to diagnose the condition and rule out other possible causes of the pain. Blood tests might be necessary, as well, to check for pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.
Pelvic Venous Congestion
Leading Women’s Health Treatment Center
Symptoms of PVCS
| Pelvic pain, especially before your menstrual period, after prolonged standing or when you are tired at the end of a day. | Pain during or after intercourse |
| Pelvic pain towards the end of a pregnancy | Swollen vulva |
| Depression | Abnormal vaginal bleeding |
| Tenderness in the pelvic region | Backache |
| Vaginal discharge | Fatigue |
Imaging tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI and diagnose the condition and rule out other possible causes of the pain. Blood tests might be necessary, as well, to check for pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.
Pelvic Venous Congestion
Treatment for Pelvic Venous Congestion
Pelvic Venous Congestion
Sound Vascular & Vein helps women identify the source of pelvic pain that is interfering with the quality of their lives. We provide the latest cutting edge treatment options focusing on minimally invasive, individualized care plans for women.
Pelvic venous congestion (PVC) or pelvic congestion syndrome tends to affect women mostly of childbearing age. The typical sufferer has had one or more children.
Veins transport blood to the heart and lungs for oxygenation, often working against the forces of gravity. There are valves built into the muscular walls of the veins to aid in the process. The valves open as the walls of the veins contract to push blood toward the heart and close when they relax.
Over time, this system can become less efficient. Valves may start to gap open, allowing blood to pool. When that happens, the vein becomes engorged and swells. That is the mechanism behind varicose veins, usually found in the legs. When the condition affects a woman’s veins in the pelvic region, it is called pelvic venous congestion.
Treatment for Pelvic Venous Congestion
There are several approaches to treating pelvic venous congestion, but one of the least invasive and most effective is pelvic vein embolization. Pelvic vein embolization is a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to close off affected veins. Once a vein is shut down, the body will automatically reroute the blood flow and absorb the vein, so it disappears.
Your physician will make a small incision near the diseased vein or veins and inserts a wire-like catheter. Treatment can vary from procedure to procedure. Sometimes metallic coils or plugs introduced into the diseased vein will stop the blood flow. A sclerosing agent can have the same effect by irritating the walls of the vein until they buckle.
No matter what the approach, the result is the same. The vein collapses and then eventually disappears. The recovery period is typically short, and most patients return to their regular lives within a week.
The first step if you are experiencing pelvic pain is to make an appointment at Sound Vascular & Vein. We will discuss your medical history with you, do an exam, and order an imaging test. From there, we can work with you to find the best treatment option.
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