Chronic pelvic pain can be an incredibly frustrating and isolating symptom, especially when standard gynecological exams show no clear cause. For many women, this ongoing discomfort is actually a vascular issue known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS). At Memphis Vein Center, we specialize in identifying and treating the underlying vein abnormalities that cause PCS, helping you find lasting relief and reclaim your quality of life.
Led by Dr. Kishore K. Arcot—a multi-board-certified interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist—our team provides compassionate, specialized care to diagnose these deep vascular conditions and deliver advanced, minimally invasive solutions.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain that results from poor blood flow and structural issues in the veins of your pelvis and ovaries. It most frequently affects women between the ages of 20 and 45, particularly those who have given birth more than once.
The Mechanism: Just like varicose veins can develop in your legs, they can also form deep within your pelvis. Normally, valves inside your pelvic and ovarian veins keep blood flowing upward toward your heart, preventing it from tracking backward.
The Failure: In PCS, these veins become abnormally widened (dilated) and stretched, causing the delicate internal valves to fail. This leads to pelvic venous insufficiency, where blood flows backward (refluxes) and pools inside the pelvic cavity.
The Pain: As these misshapen veins overfill and twist, they stretch significantly and can press directly against nearby pelvic nerves, triggering chronic pain.
While the exact cause can vary, researchers point to two primary drivers: pregnancy (where blood vessels naturally expand by up to 50%, sometimes causing permanent structural damage to the vein walls) and estrogen (which naturally relaxes blood vessel walls). Because estrogen plays a key role, PCS is highly uncommon after menopause.
The primary warning sign of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is pelvic pain that lasts longer than six months and is not tied directly to your menstrual cycle. The pain typically feels dull, achy, or heavy, and it frequently intensifies:
At the end of a long day
During or immediately after sexual intercourse
After standing, sitting, or walking for extended periods (but improves when lying down)
During heavy lifting or right before your period begins
Visible varicose veins in the genital region, vulva, or upper thighs
A swollen vulva or localized pelvic bloating
Unexplained leg pain, swelling, or a feeling of lower-body heaviness
Urinary urgency or mild discomfort while urinating
Because pelvic pain can stem from many different sources, diagnosing PCS requires ruling out standard gynecological issues while carefully mapping the pelvic vascular system. At Memphis Vein Center, we utilize advanced imaging to uncover hidden venous disease:
Pelvic & Vascular Ultrasound: A painless, non-invasive starting point used to evaluate blood flow and look for signs of backward flow (reflux) or dilated pelvic veins.
Advanced CT or MRI Scans: High-resolution cross-sectional imaging that provides an intricate view of the pelvic anatomy, allowing Dr. Arcot to see twisted or compressed veins that an ultrasound might miss.
Pelvic Venogram: Considered the gold standard for diagnostic imaging, this specialized X-ray procedure uses a safe contrast dye injected via a tiny catheter to track blood flow and pinpoint exactly where blood is pooling in real-time.
While Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is not life-threatening, the chronic pain it causes can take a significant toll on your daily life and mental well-being. Historically, treatment options were limited to continuous medications or major surgery.
Today, Dr. Arcot provides highly effective, minimally invasive endovascular procedures performed on an outpatient basis:
This state-of-the-art procedure is designed to stop blood from pooling in the damaged vessels. Dr. Arcot precisely guides a microscopic catheter directly into the problematic ovarian or pelvic veins. Using tiny medical coils or a specialized sealing agent, he safely closes off the diseased, stretched veins from the inside out.
The Body’s Response: Blood is instantly and naturally rerouted to surrounding healthy, functional veins in the pelvis.
The Patient Experience: Because it is performed through a freckle-sized entry point using local numbing, patients experience minimal discomfort, require no hospital stays, and enjoy an exceptionally fast recovery.
You do not have to live with unexplained, chronic pelvic pain. Contact Memphis Vein Center today to schedule your comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Arcot, or request an appointment online.
