Women’s Health

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) is a term used to refer to the chronic pelvic pain experienced by over 50 million American women during their lifetime. One of the most common causes of this pain are varices (swollen blood vessels similar to varicose veins) that develop in their ovarian veins or elsewhere in the pelvic area.

Symptoms
Pelvic pain that worsens after standing a long time, in the days before your period, later in the day, or during/after intercourse. You may also experience abnormal bleeding during your period, backaches, fatigue, abnormal vaginal discharge, swelling of the vagina or vulva, tenderness in the abdomen, increased urination, or irritable bowel symptoms. Varicose veins may also be visible around the vulva, buttocks, or legs.

Diagnosis
Diagnosing these swollen veins can be tricky, because unlike varicose veins on the legs, they are not visible. A venogram can be used to discover if varicose veins are contributing to your pain. Medication can be prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms. But if medication doesn’t help, there is another option. A procedure called Ovarian Vein Embolization (OVE) may provide a solution to help eliminate pain without the need for invasive surgery.

About OVE
Ovarian Vein Embolization relieves pressure in the veins and improves blood flow. This can significantly reduce pelvic pain. It is a minimally invasive procedure that’s done in our facility so there is no overnight hospital stay. Most patients are able to return to their normal activities quickly. OVE reduces the blood supply to the veins which may be causing the pain.