Heavy, Tired Legs? What Your Body May Be Telling You About Circulation
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Understanding Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: When Vein Issues Cause Chronic Pelvic Pain
When you think about vein issues, your mind might first go to your heart, which feeds those blood vessels, or your legs, where problem veins tend to become visible. You can also run into blood vessel problems in your pelvis, though.
Doctors call this pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), or pelvic venous insufficiency.
If you’re living with chronic pelvic pain, see our providers at Louisiana Heart and Vascular Institute in Covington, Franklinton, or Hammond, Louisiana.
With expertise in venous insufficiency and extensive experience diagnosing PCS, we can help you figure out if a vein issue is behind your persistent discomfort.
PCS 101
Pelvic congestion syndrome develops when blood doesn’t flow through your pelvis as it should. When veins work, their valves keep blood flowing in one direction. With PCS, an issue causes a backflow of blood, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms.
PCS can affect men, but it’s much more common in women. That makes it tricky to diagnose. Some women dismiss the pain as a menstrual issue. As a result, this problem often goes undiagnosed and, consequently, untreated.
We want to help you avoid persistent pain. That means learning the signs of pelvic congestion syndrome so you can seek care if it might be affecting you. Common symptoms of PCS include:
- A heavy sensation in your pelvis
- Pain during and after sex
- Pain that doesn’t go away after your period
- Pain that gets worse as the day goes on
- Pain that improves when you lie down
- Pain that worsens after long periods of sitting or standing
- Visible varicose veins (bulging veins) on your pelvis
If any of this sounds familiar, it could be because the veins in your pelvis aren’t working how they should. Fortunately, you’re not stuck with this venous insufficiency and the pain it causes.
Diagnosing and treating pelvic congestion syndrome
To figure out what’s going on with the veins in your pelvis, we start with an ultrasound. Based on the information this painless imaging reveals, we might recommend additional diagnostic tests.
If we determine you have PCS, we develop a treatment plan. You have a lot of options here.
Some people get relief with medication. Others turn to a procedure to seal off the problem veins, like sclerotherapy or embolization. Your body then redirects blood flow through your other healthy veins.
In short, you’re not stuck with chronic pelvic pain. To figure out if a vein issue is at play, schedule a visit with our team. Call the Louisiana Heart and Vascular Institute office near you or request an appointment online today.
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