Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Specialist
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Carolinas Vein & Vascular Solutions
Martin Carignan, MD
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery & General Surgery located in Huntersville, NC & Mooresville, NC
Women with pelvic pain don’t imagine that vein disease could be the problem. Yet 30-40% of all cases of chronic pelvic pain are caused by pelvic congestion syndrome (enlarged ovarian veins). At Carolinas Vein & Vascular Solutions, Martin Carignan, MD, helps women find long-term relief from their pain with a minimally invasive procedure that targets the diseased veins. If your gynecologist can’t find a reason for your pelvic pain, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carignan. Call the office in Huntersville, North Carolina, or book an appointment online today.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Q & A
What is pelvic congestion syndrome?
Pelvic congestion syndrome occurs when the veins that carry blood away from your ovaries become engorged with blood. As a result, you end up with a condition that’s similar to the varicose veins that develop in your legs but appears near your ovaries.
Like varicose veins in your legs, pelvic congestion syndrome develops when valves in the ovarian veins stop functioning. Since the valves normally keep blood flowing toward your heart, a bad valve lets some of the blood flow backward. Then blood accumulates in the vein, turning it into an enlarged, twisted vein.
What symptoms develop if I have pelvic congestion syndrome?
Pelvic congestion syndrome is known for causing chronic pelvic pain. The pain often starts during pregnancy or after delivering a baby. Women’s veins naturally enlarge during pregnancy to accommodate the increase in blood volume. However, this change pulls on the valves, which weakens them and leads to pelvic congestion syndrome.
Whether your pelvic pain is sharp or dull, it usually gets worse:
- When you walk
- When you stand for a long time
- Before and after menstrual periods
- During sexual intercourse
You may also have lower back or leg pain. Some women also develop varicose veins in their buttocks or thighs.
How is pelvic congestion syndrome diagnosed and treated?
The important thing to know about diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome is that it seldom shows up during routine gynecologic pelvic exams. The engorged veins also don’t appear during diagnostic procedures such as laparoscopy or hysteroscopy.
Carolinas Vein & Vascular Solutions accurately diagnoses pelvic congestion syndrome using ultrasound imaging. The diseased veins may also show up on a CT or MRI scan, but their use is not common.
Your provider at Carolinas Vein & Vascular Solutions offers an effective and long-lasting treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome called ovarian vein embolization. During this minimally invasive procedure, they insert a catheter into a blood vessel and use real-time imaging to guide the catheter into the enlarged ovarian vein.
Your provider sends substances through the catheter and into the vein that seal the blood vessel or collapse the vein walls. For example, they may use tiny coils, a glue-like substance, or medication.
Once the damaged vein closes, normal circulation returns as the blood automatically reroutes through healthy veins. The treated varicose veins shrink back to their normal size, or your body reabsorbs them, depending on the technique that seals the blood vessel.
If you have ongoing pelvic pain and your gynecologist has ruled out an obstetric condition, call Carolinas Vein & Vascular Solutions, or book an appointment online today.
