Pelvic congestion syndrome is a painful venous condition caused by enlarged pelvic veins, often in women with chronic lower abdominal or back discomfort.
Why It Is Missed
These veins are deep in the pelvis and cannot usually be seen from the outside, so pelvic congestion syndrome can be mistaken for endometriosis, fibroids, or other causes of chronic pelvic pain.
Symptoms often include heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen and low back that can worsen over time.
Treatment Direction
Embolization is an important treatment option for painful pelvic varicosities once the diagnosis is confirmed.
The key step is a careful vein-focused evaluation so symptoms are not dismissed or misclassified.