How Common is Pelvic Pain?
Chronic Pelvic Pain can affect up to 40%1 of women during their lifetime. Pelvic Venous Congestion Syndrome (PVCS) can account for up to 30%1 of patients with chronic pelvic pain however this condition often goes undiagnosed.
What causes Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic pain can be caused by a range of factors from ovarian cysts to pelvic inflammatory disease and adenomyosis.
For many women, however, the cause may be Pelvic Venous Congestion Syndrome, which is a condition where varicose veins in the pelvic area bulge and cause pain.
What is Pelvic Venous Congestion Syndrome?
Pelvic venous congestion syndrome is often caused by dilatation of the ovarian and/or pelvic veins(similar to varicose veins but in the pelvis).
This happens when the veins become less elastic and the valves that stop the blood from flowing backwards stop working.
This causes the blood to pool, due to gravity, which results in pelvic pain and may also cause visible varicose veins around the vulva, vagina, inner thigh, sometimes the buttock and down the leg (s).2