At Buckner Vein and Aesthetics, we offer effective, personalized care for women with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
Chronic pelvic pain is a very common problem in the United States. It accounts for 10 to 15 percent of referrals to gynecologists and pain clinics. For some women, the cause of their pelvic pain is a condition known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS). It may go undiagnosed simply because physicians are often unfamiliar with it or fail to look for it.
Many times, symptoms don’t appear until a woman becomes pregnant. Often, these symptoms will continue after the pregnancy.
The main symptom of PCS is pelvic pain. The pain typically worsens as the day goes on, especially for women who sit or stand all day, and then goes away after a night of sleep. The pain can also worsen:
- With intercourse or sexual activity
- Around menstrual periods and ovulation
- After certain physical activities, such as bicycling or horseback riding
Pelvic congestion syndrome occurs when varicose veins develop around the ovaries, similar to varicose veins that occur in the legs. When this occurs, the valves in the veins no longer function normally, which causes blood to back up and the veins become engorged or “congested”. This can be very painful.
Diagnosis of the condition is done through pelvic ultrasound, CT or MRI.