Pelvic pain can be a vexing problem. Almost one third of women with chronic pelvic pain have pelvic vein disease, the majority of whom are 45 years old or younger. Other risk factors for pelvic vein disease include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), multiple pregnancies, hormonal dysfunction, fullness of leg veins, or weight gain.
Typical pelvic vein symptoms are related to varicosities in veins in the area of your uterus and ovaries. Defective vein check valves allow blood to pool in the pelvic veins, resulting in dull pain, heaviness, and pressure. As the pelvic veins become varicose, reflux can extend into branches that connect with varicose veins in the inner thigh, labial and buttock areas.
Primary sources of pelvic vein disease are the left renal, ovarian, and common iliac vein. Other veins in the lower abdomen and pelvis may contribute to your symptoms. Pelvic vein disease may also develop in patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and scarring of the iliac veins.
