You’re probably familiar with varicose veins — twisting, bulging veins in the legs. These veins are visible because the valves within malfunction, allowing blood to flow backward in the vein. That enlarges the vein, contributing to its unsightly appearance and uncomfortable symptoms.
Those problem veins can develop in places beyond your legs. Specifically, you may have this issue in the veins in your pelvis. When it causes discomfort, doctors call this pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS).
PCS is most common in women who’ve had multiple pregnancies, but it can also affect men. It’s characterized by a dull, heavy ache in the pelvis that usually gets worse throughout the day.
At offices in Covington, Franklinton, and Hammond, Louisiana, our providers at Louisiana Heart and Vascular Institute can help determine if this condition affects you. As experts in varicose veins — including in the pelvis — we work with you on a diagnosis and treatment plan.
You should be screened for pelvic congestion syndrome if you have the signs of this condition.
The pain from PCS usually feels dull and achy. You may experience it on only one side of your body (the left side is most common) or on both. This syndrome usually causes a dull ache but can occasionally present as a sharp pain.
Sitting or standing for long periods typically makes the symptoms worse.
For women, pelvic congestion syndrome might get more uncomfortable before and during their period or during and after intercourse.
Sometimes, the problem veins become visible around the pelvis and buttocks. That said, the main characteristic of PCS is the ongoing discomfort in your pelvis. If that sounds familiar, see our team.
If you think you might have PCS, our team starts the diagnosis process. We discuss your symptoms and conduct a pelvic exam.
Then, we perform a venous ultrasound, the standard first step in diagnosing this syndrome. This painless imaging allows us to see what’s going on in the veins of your pelvis. Specifically, the ultrasound helps us identify other issues that could cause your pelvic pain.
Based on the results of the ultrasound, we may recommend additional diagnostics like:
We work with you to get the testing you need to figure out what’s happening in your pelvis.
If you have pelvic congestion syndrome, our team works with you on a treatment plan that brings you relief. That could mean medication aimed at easing your symptoms (e.g., pain relievers, hormonal therapy).
If medication doesn’t help, embolization can seal off the problem vein(s). It’s a minimally invasive procedure with only a brief recovery window.
If you show signs of pelvic congestion syndrome, don’t wait to seek relief. To get screened for this condition, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
