If any one word can be used to describe pelvic congestion syndrome it would be 'variable'. Women suffering from pelvic congestion syndrome will experience different degrees of severity of pain with this condition. This makes diagnosing this condition and subsequently treating it very difficult. It is estimated that about 30% of women will experience the chronic pelvic pain associated with pelvic congestion syndrome at some point in their lives. To best understand the condition, women should obtain as much information as possible about the condition and consult a doctor. Patients may then seek treatment at one of the medical facilities in Minnesota catering to patients with venous diseases.
Pelvic congestion syndrome is most commonly found in women between the ages of 20 and 45 who have had multiple pregnancies. The condition is found in women, leading many researchers and doctors to believe that estrogen may play an important role in the development of varicose veins in women suffering from this condition. The veins may be present near the uterus, fallopian tubes, vulva or the vagina.
The exact cause of this condition is not fully understood, but patients in Minnesota should speak with their doctor for more information about this condition. Estrogen levels are increased during pregnancy, which may explain why this condition is associated with women who have had multiple pregnancies. Estrogen is known to weaken the vein walls, which may lead to varicose veins. The weight gain and excess fluids associated with pregnancy may also play a role. The excess weight and fluid may damage the valves in the vein, causing them to engorge with blood.
The next step in understanding this condition is identifying the symptoms. The most common symptom of pelvic congestion syndrome is a dull pain that varies in its severity. The pain may increase in severity before the onset of the menstrual cycle, towards the end of the day, after standing for a long period of time, during or after intercourse and in the later stages of pregnancy. There are other symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome, but they are very nonspecific and could be symptoms of other conditions. Nevertheless, these include swollen vulva or vagina, abnormal menstrual bleeding, tenderness in the lower abdomen, backache, vaginal discharge, lethargy and depression. Before treatment for pelvic congestion syndrome is administered, however, all other medical conditions must be ruled out. This is what makes diagnosis and treatment so difficult. A CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound or venogram may be used in diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome.
If a patient finds that they are suffering from this condition, they should consider all of their options before choosing a treatment. Drugs were used in the past to treat this condition, but they have since been deemed unsuccessful. Drugs may be prescribed for the pain many women experience, however.
Patients who have been diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome often only turn to surgery if all other treatment options have failed. Embolization is a relatively new radiological treatment that plugs the veins so that they do not become engorged. This treatment requires an overnight stay in the hospital, although no anesthesia is needed during the treatment and no incision is required. Patients may experience pain, nausea and fever in the days following surgery. Patients considering treatment for this condition should consider all of their options and understand that these treatments do not come with a 100% guarantee in results. The severity of the condition and other factors may play into the success of surgery or embolization, although patients undergoing embolization have traditionally had more success.
Learn more about Compression Stockings in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Top Cities for Pelvic Congestion SyndromeMore Cities
