Pelvic Congestive Syndrome – 5 Facts About PCS You Should Probably Know

If you’re reading this post about Pelvic Congestive Syndrome, never having heard of it, you’re not alone. The condition often goes under the radar, yet studies suggest it’s the reason behind 10-20% of all gynecologic consultations.

But given that it’s also a health condition that can cause back and stomach pain, pain during intercourse, stop periods, and cause stomach bloating, it’s well worth reading up on. So, to give you a good understanding of what PCS  is and isn’t, let’s first talk about what causes it, and then we’ll discuss those 5 unwelcome facts you should probably know.

What is Pelvic Congestive Syndrome, and what causes it?

The root cause of this lesser-known condition is essentially varicose veins. When excess blood builds up in the lower stomach or pelvic areas, it causes the vein’s flow-control valves to falter. When this happens, the veins become swollen or dilated and can press against other organs. This in turn can cause dull or sharp pain in the lower stomach, back, or pelvis, usually for lengthy periods. But while uncomfortable, PCS can also trigger a whole host of other symptoms, which brings us to fact one.

#1 – The condition is often misdiagnosed

Pelvic Congestive Syndrome can be hard to diagnose because it has many symptoms. We’ve already mentioned the discomfort during sex, the stomach bloating, and the ability to stop periods, but there are also a whole host of other symptoms triggered by PCS, including:

• Reduced libido
• Anxiety or depression
• Feelings of heaviness or sluggishness
• Lower back pain
• Constipation
• Discomfort when menstruating

And the list goes on…

This is why the condition is so difficult to diagnose or spot!

To put this into perspective, the latest reports suggest that in the US, 15% of premenopausal women suffer from Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. Yet an estimated 30% of these cases (3.6 million women) have been treated for conditions that didn’t address their pelvic pain. 

This mirrors our findings here at the Midwest Institute for Non-Surgical Therapy (MINT), where most patients are surprised or even shocked when they find out they’ve been diagnosed with PCS.

Fact #2 – It’s caused by problem veins that you can’t see

When we think of the term “varicose veins,” we imagine those unsightly raised blue or purple veins that are visible on legs, but with PCS, that’s not the case.  The majority of problem veins that trigger PCS occur deep within the abdomen or pelvis and are not normally distinguishable. This is why so many conditions either go undiagnosed or are mistakenly diagnosed as something else.

Diagnosing such hidden vein problems requires diagnostic tools like a Doppler Ultrasound, usually followed by CT or MRI scans for more detailed views.

Fact #3 – Hormonal imbalances can worsen PCS

Sudden changes in hormone levels can worsen Pelvic Congestive Syndrome or exacerbate the symptoms of PCS.

Although high estrogen is thought to widen veins and increase blood flow, it also weakens them. Weakened veins make them more prone to blood pooling and increased pressure, causing symptoms to worsen.

This helps to explain why some women’s pelvic discomfort during pregnancy is often dismissed as a ‘normal side effect of hormonal changes’, with reassurances that any discomfort will “ease after childbirth” – even though the underlying vein issues still exist.

Fact 4 – Ignoring the symptoms of Pelvic Congestive Syndrome may exacerbate the condition

Because the symptoms of PCS mimic those of other conditions or initially, at least, seem like minor inconveniences, many women with PCS live with it for months or even years.

Yet, without treatment, pressure on the pelvic veins and, indeed, surrounding organs can increase. This may intensify pain and discomfort but also cause visible varicose veins to appear on the thighs and vulva, affecting both intimacy and quality of life.

Take Sophie, for example, she spent most of 2018 with chronic back and lower abdomen pain. These were symptoms she had had many times before over the years, but never for more than a week. This time it felt different. Her initial flare-up was preceded by a persistent dull ache, but this time the discomfort didn’t vanish. She was signed off work, and a blood test revealed high levels of inflammation in her body. Finally, after exhaustive testing, she was diagnosed with Pelvic Congestive Syndrome.

Given that PCS is typically a diagnosis of exclusion, usually after tests for conditions like endometriosis, uterine abnormalities, IBS, and pelvic inflammatory disease, diagnosis is never quick, so the earlier patients can seek help, the quicker patients can get the right treatment.

Fact #5 – Surgery isn’t your only option

Okay, so maybe this isn’t an unwelcome fact, but it’s equally important to mention…

In the past, surgical options like laparoscopic ligation (tying off the veins), an oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), or even a hysterectomy to remove the uterus were the only options in the fight against PCS. But now, non-surgical, minimally invasive treatments that target the veins directly are coming to the fore, with much success.

For example, at MINT, our vascular and endovascular specialists carry out ground-breaking chairside techniques like Pelvic Venous Embolization (PVE) or Ovarian Vein Embolization (OVE), where treatments have a success rate of 98% - 100%.

Of these, symptom improvements for Pelvic Congestive Syndrome occur in 75%-80% of all cases, sometimes in as little as 2 weeks after treatment. Moreover, there’s no overnight hospitalization. Instead, patients are free to go home the same day, experiencing no major downtime,

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Book a consultation now!

If you’re currently experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of Pelvic Congestive Syndrome, it’s better to be safe than sorry. An early diagnosis and treatment now can save you months or even years of discomfort and uncertainty.  

Book your consultation with our specialist team at the Midwest Institute of Non-Surgical Therapy (MINT) and take the first positive steps towards long-lasting relief. Call 314 255 2204 or schedule a consultation online. Dr Akinwande and his team are standing by to help!