Persistent Pelvic Pain After Pregnancy: Could It Be Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?

Pelvic pain after pregnancy is a common, and often harmless, issue. However, if your pain is severe, long-lasting, or accompanied by other symptoms, you may need treatment. 

Postpartum pelvic pain can stem from a range of causes, including pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). It involves veins swollen with pooled-up blood in your pelvis.

With his expert team at our Midtown Manhattan, New York, practice, double board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist Dr. Yosef Golowa specializes in nonsurgical pelvic congestion syndrome treatments.

Here’s what you should know:

What causes pelvic pain after pregnancy

A variety of factors can fuel persistent pelvic pain after pregnancy, including:

• Constipation, especially if you’re eating less or dehydrated
• Cesarean section (C-section) pain
• Damage to your pelvic floor, related to vaginal delivery
• Muscle strain or weakness
• Pelvic bone problems
• Pelvic floor dysfunction
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Scar tissue from childbirth

If your pelvic pain persists or becomes severe, it’s time to seek professional guidance and care.

Signs of pelvic congestion syndrome

Pelvic pain from PCS is chronic, meaning it lasts for longer than six months and usually starts soon after giving birth. It happens when veins in your pelvis become congested or dilated. As a result, the veins can bulge or twist – similar to varicose veins in your legs – causing pain.

PCS pelvic pain may worsen near the day’s end, before and during your periods, and during and after sex. Sitting or standing for lengthy periods may also worsen matters. The pain tends to feel like a dull or heavy ache and may only affect the left side of your body.

Other signs of pelvic congestion syndrome include varicose veins in surrounding areas, like your vagina, vulva, or buttocks. It can also cause frequent constipation or diarrhea and stress incontinence. Stress incontinence causes you to leak urine with certain movements, like sneezing or laughing. Painful urination may also stem from PCS.

Pelvic congestion syndrome treatment

If you’re diagnosed with PCS, Dr. Golowa creates a customized treatment plan. Depending on factors like your overall health and the severity of your symptoms, he may recommend hormone therapy or gonadal vein embolization (GVE). 

Gonadal vein embolization reduces pressure on the problematic veins. As a safer and less invasive alternative to hysterectomies and other surgeries, GVE involves less pain and a quicker recovery.

To learn more or find out which nonsurgical PCS treatment suits your needs, call our office today. You can also book an appointment with Dr. Golowa through our website.