Chronic pelvic pain. hidden disease in a visible place
IT'S EASY TO IDENTIFY
BASIC SYMPTOMS
- Sharp and constant pain
- Pain that comes and goes (intermittent)
- idle wrench
- Severe muscle aches or spasms
- Feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area
Additional symptoms the patients may experience:
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain during defecation or urination
- Pain when sitting for long periods of time
However, it is difficult to diagnose
There are many possible causes8
- Genital cancers
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Fibromyalgia
- Hernia
- Bowel disorders and Irritable bowel syndrome
- Infections or kidney stones
- Miscarriage
- Nerve problems
- Ovarian cysts or ovulation
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Psychogenic pain
- Uterine fibroids
SO, WHAT IS PVI ?
PVI IS ESSENTIALLY VARICOSE VEINS IN THE PELVIS3
This desease is a major cause of chronic pelvic pain in up to 40% of women9
How do varicose veins develop in the Pelvis?
How damaged valves in the ovarian veins look like
MEDICATION
- Analgesia
- Anti-depressants
- No proven efficacy
- Often used to do something
Embolization
- Safe procedure
- Highly effective
- Less invasive
- Typically done as day case procedure
Surgical
- Total hysterectomy
- Used as a last resort
- Radical solution sometimes used by gynaecologists
- High morbidity
- Limited benefit
PATIENT EXPERIENCES
Many women have to live with pelvic pain for years1
One survey noted that, on average, respondents had 16 general practitioner appointments. Several patients waited over 20 years from presenting to their GP and receiving treatment
Read stories
1
The impact of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome-https://thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Impact-of-Pelvic-Congestion-Syndrome-Report.pdf
2
Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women-https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26926975/
3
https://www.bsir.org/patients/pelvic-venous-congestion-syndrome/