Pelvic Pain vs Pelvic Venous Insufficiency

Pelvic Pain can be due to many causes. Musculoskeletal Pelvic Pain is pelvic pain attributed to a dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscle, ligament, or tendon structures, such as overly tight pelvic floor muscles. However, if you are experiencing persistent pelvic pain and conservative therapies have not helped, you may want to consider Pelvic Venous Insufficiency as a possible root cause of your pelvic pain.

We were fortunate to have a chat with Dr. Deepak Sudheendra, MD, MHCI, RPVI, FSIR, one of the foremost experts on venous diseases.

Pelvic Venous Insufficiency (PVI), previously known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, is a vascular problem involving the pelvic veins.. It is caused by blood refluxing (going backwards) down the ovarian and iliac veins, resulting in blood pooling within the pelvis. PVI typically happens in women who have had at least one pregnancy but may occur more rarely in women who have never had children and elderly women. Pregnancy is a main risk factor for PVI because pregnancy causes increased blood flow and pressure in the pelvic veins.

What’s the Difference Between Pelvic Pain and PVI?

PVI and musculoskeletal Pelvic Pain can cause similar symptoms in patients, so it’s important to understand some key differences between the two to best direct your care. In PVI, patients may experience:

• Chronic (greater than 6 months) pelvic pain
• Pain with intercourse (one of the most sensitive signs of PVI)
• Throbbing pelvic pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing and improves with bedrest and leg elevation
• Feelings of pelvic “heaviness” that worsen as the day goes on
• Feelings of increased pelvic pressure during menstrual cycles
• Left-sided flank pain
• Frequent urges to urinate, but when they go to urinate, not much urine comes out
• Possible leg swelling or leg heaviness; this can occur in both legs, but may be worse in the left leg
• Possible low back pain with prolonged sitting or standing; pain may be worse on the left side

Conversely, in musculoskeletal pelvic pain, patients may experience:

• Achy, sore pelvic pain
• Shooting or stabbing pelvic pain
• Past medical history that involves trauma to the pelvic floor such as a traumatic pregnancy
• Standing should not make symptoms worse

What Should I Do If I Think I Have PVI?

If you suspect your pelvic pain is due to PVI, you should first see your OBGYN to rule out other causes for chronic pelvic pain, such as endometriosis and fibroids. You may also want to see a pelvic floor physical therapist to try a more conservative management of pelvic pain symptoms before undergoing any procedures. PVI is suspected and conservative measures have not helped, you will be referred to a Vascular Specialist to formally diagnose PVI and properly manage PVI.

Conservative treatments for PVI include compression stockings, pelvic support garments, and weight management. If the condition is severe enough, minimally invasive interventions may be warranted.

For further information and resources, please visit Dr. Deepak Sudheendra’s website.

About Dr. Deepak Sudheendra

Dr. Sudheendra (aka Dr. Sudi) is the CEO & Medical Director of 360 Vascular Institute in Columbus, OH that is opening in the winter of 2022. Previously, Dr. Sudi founded and directed the DVT and Complex Venous Disease Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania that became one of the most respected and busiest vascular programs in the country, drawing patients from across the US and abroad. He has trained over 100 residents and fellows as well as many practicing physicians from around the globe. In addition to conducting research on venous disease, he’s been invited to guest lecture around the world and developed hospital algorithms to improve the diagnosis and treatment of DVT. After 10+ years at HUP, Dr. Sudi has decided to return to his home state of Ohio and develop his own vascular institute that focuses on pelvic venous disease, peripheral arterial disease, uterine fibroids, and other complex vascular conditions.