What is the Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?

The pelvic congestion syndrome, which is also known to cause inguinal varicose veins, is the formation of varicose veins in the pelvis and around the ovaries in the lower abdomen in women. It is a disease that causes unexplained abdominal pain, occult bleeding in the urine, and distinct varicose veins in the genital region and groin in patients.

Approximately one in 10 women suffers from pelvic congestion syndrome. The most common age range of this syndrome is between 20 and 45 years. The rate of pelvic congestion syndrome increases with the number of births.

Pelvic congestion syndrome is one of the causes of chronic pelvic pain. It is stated that chronic pelvic pain, which adversely affects women's daily lives and relationships, is generally not related to the menstrual cycle, that is, menstrual bleeding.

Causes of the Chronic Pelvic Pain

Gynecological Causes:

Uterine prolapse
Ovarian cysts
Conjoined cases
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Adenomyosis
Chronic pelvic inflammation
Pelvic congestion syndrome

Neurological Causes:

Abdominal epilepsy/migraine
Neuropathic pain

Urological Causes

Urethral diverticulum
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Interstitial cystitis
Herniated nucleus pulposus
Neuralgia (of the ilioinguinal, genitofemoral or pudendal nerves)

Causes regarding the Musculoskeletal System:

Psoas inflammation
Hip joint pathology
Fibromyalgia
Coccyx fracture
Sacro-iliac joint inflammation
Piriformis syndrome
Pelvic floor myalgia
Myofascial pain (trigger points)

Psychiatric Causes:

Sleeping disorders
Somatization
Physical or sexual abuse/drug abuse
Major depression

Stomach - intestine causes (Gastroenterological):

Chronic constipation
Diverticulum
Hernia
Inflammatory bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome

Hematological (Blood Disease)/Oncological (Cancer) Causes:

Cancer or its metastases
Porphyry

Risk Factors for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Anatomical Factors:

Pelvic tumors (uterine leiomyomas, gestational trophoblastic neoplasms, solid ovarian tumors, mesenteric tumors)
Fibroids
Vena cava inferior thrombosis
Conjoined cases that occur after surgery or infections
Endometriosis
May - Turner Syndrome (compression caused by the right common iliac artery on the left common iliac vein)
Nutcracker Syndrome (compression caused by the superior mesenteric artery on the left ovary and left renal vein)

Genetic Factors:

Thrombomodulin gene
FOXC2 gene
NOTCH3 gene

Environmental Factors:

Estrogen therapy
Lifting heavy things
Phlebitis
Professions that require prolonged standing (such as teachers, nurses)
Overweight/obesity
Previous pelvic surgery
Pregnancy