Pelvic congestion syndrome is a chronic ailment affecting women once varicose veins develop beneath the abdomen within the pelvic region. It is important to note that varicose veins are long, twisting, swelling veins that form due to poor function.
Generally, the condition often triggers a continuous dull pain in the pelvic region that worsens at different times and scenarios. It is likely to develop among women who previously gave birth.
What are the signs?
Women with pelvic congestion syndrome typically suffer from dull chronic pain but it can worsen in some scenarios such as:
- In the evenings
- After standing up for prolonged periods of time
- During and after sexual intercourse
- In the days leading to menstruation
- In the late phase of pregnancy
Aside from the pain, women might experience other signs of pelvic congestion syndrome as well as a combination of these signs:
- At first, back pain
- Dysmenorrhea
- Depression
- Unusual bleeding during menstruation
- Fatigue
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Varicose veins around the buttocks, vulva and legs
- Abdominal tenderness
- In addition, swelling of the vulva or vagina
- Increased urinary frequency
- Hip pain
- Lastly, signs of irritable bowel
Management of pelvic congestion syndrome
The treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome typically aims on reducing the symptoms. Consequently, it is sad to note that there is no definite cure and it is a challenge to manage.
Some of the drugs given to lessen the symptoms include:
- NSAIDs
- Chronic pain medications
At the present, the effective treatment option is a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as pelvic vein embolization. The procedure blocks off the varicose veins that are believed to be the root of the pain.
FACT CHECK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvic_congestion_syndrome
https://www.healthline.com/health/pelvic-congestion-syndrome