Chronic pelvic pain is a common problem among women that can stem from a number of different causes. One such cause is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, or PCS.
What Is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?
If you’re experiencing chronic pain in your pelvic area, it can be due to an issue with your veins. Due to a number of different factors, the veins in a woman’s lower abdomen may not function as well as they should. When this happens, veins in the pelvis can enlarge and change shape, in a way that’s very similar to varicose veins. The chronic pelvic pain of PCS often occurs in women who have recently been pregnant, and it can worsen after every pregnancy that follows.
Symptoms of PCS
The most obvious symptom of PCS is pain in the pelvic region that lasts for more than a few months. This classifies the problem as chronic pelvic pain. In addition, you may experience the following:
- Dull pain in your lower back and abdomen, while standing or sitting.
- Irritable bowel and/or bladder.
- Bulging veins in the pelvic region.
- Increasing pain while standing, walking, and having sex.
- Increased pain during periods.
- The sudden urge to urinate at random times.
Although you may experience some or all of these additional symptoms, there’s a chance that chronic pelvic pain will be your only warning sign. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kern if you are experiencing any pain that could be related to PCS.
Pain in the pelvis or pain with intercourse may result from many conditions involving the intestines, urinary bladder, or the female reproductive organs. A small but significant number of women with chronic or frequently recurring pelvic pain suffer from venous disorders which often remain undiagnosed for years.
Symptoms often include worsening pain just prior to or during the menses, prolonged pain after intercourse, enlarged veins around the pubic or labial area and may sometimes be associated with leg pain or swelling with exercise.
Persisting pelvic pain which is not well explained on the basis of other diagnosed pelvic conditions may warrant further evaluation with abdominal / pelvic venous color duplex ultrasound with detailed evaluation of venous flow. This is a very specialized non-invasive study performed by relatively few ultrasound facilities. If a diagnosis of venous obstruction or reflux is made, many patients will experience a dramatic improvement or resolution of symptoms with minimally invasive treatment.
Contact our office today at (630) 425-0800 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kern and begin your journey to healthier, pain free legs.
