Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS), also known as Pelvic Venous Insufficiency, is a common yet often overlooked cause of chronic pelvic pain in women. It occurs when veins in the pelvis become enlarged and unable to properly circulate blood, leading to pooling, pressure, and discomfort in the pelvic region.
This condition most often affects women who have had multiple pregnancies or who have hormonal changes that weaken vein walls and valves. The good news: PCS is highly treatable — and surgery isn’t your only option.
If you’ve experienced chronic pelvic pain with no clear cause, PCS could be the underlying issue. At Clarity Care in Kansas City, we specialize in diagnosing and treating this condition with minimally invasive solutions that offer lasting relief.
Our expert interventional radiologists perform Pelvic Venous Embolization, a safe, image-guided procedure that seals off the malfunctioning veins responsible for pain and congestion.
Through a small incision in the wrist or groin, a tiny catheter is guided into the affected pelvic veins under real-time imaging. Tiny medical-grade coils or embolic agents are then inserted to block off the problematic veins, redirecting blood flow through healthy vessels.
The procedure typically takes less than an hour, requires no general anesthesia, and most patients return home the same day — with significant symptom improvement within days to weeks.
At Clarity Care, we aim to be your trusted partner in healthcare — offering compassionate, personalized care from diagnosis through recovery. Our board-certified interventional radiologists are highly experienced in performing advanced, image-guided vein procedures designed to relieve pain and restore wellness without surgery.
We believe that healthcare should be individualized, not one-size-fits-all. That’s why we take the time to help you understand your options, answer your questions, and guide you toward a treatment plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.
With less pain, less risk, and lower cost than traditional surgery, Clarity Care’s minimally invasive procedures bring comfort and clarity back to your life.
The pelvis contains a network of veins that carry blood back to the heart. In some cases, the valves in these veins may become weak or damaged, causing blood to flow backward and accumulate in the Pelvic veins. The resulting congestion and enlargement of these veins can lead to pain, pressure, and a sensation of fullness in the pelvic area.
Risk factors for developing PCS include:
Symptoms of PCS can vary but often present as:
Conservative measures to treat PCS symptoms include compression socks, regular exercise, the minimization of prolonged standing or sitting, pain medication, or hormone therapy.
When these prescribed methods of procedure are unsuccessful, Clarity Care offers minimally invasive embolization to combat PCS. During this safe and effective procedure, patients are placed under local anesthesia or conscious sedation. A small incision is made in the groin area and a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) is threaded into the femoral vein. Using X-Ray guidance, the catheter is navigated through the vein toward the affected pelvic veins.
Once the catheter reaches the pelvic veins, contrast dye is injected to visualize the blood flow and identify areas of congestion. Small coils or embolic agents (tiny particles or foam) are injected into the affected veins to block blood flow. The veins then collapse and redirect blood flow to healthier veins.
When this one- to two-hour procedure is complete, the catheter is removed, and pressure is applied to the incision site to prevent bleeding. Patients may be required to lie flat for several hours to ensure the puncture site heals properly. Recovery time is minimal, with most patients resuming regular activities within a few days.
Those experiencing symptoms related to Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) may undergo a thorough evaluation to receive a definitive diagnosis. This evaluation will likely include a physical examination, medical history review, imaging tests, and potential venography (which involves injecting dye into the pelvic veins to visualize blood flow).
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) embolization is a highly effective method of procedure, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life for most patients. Success rates for symptom reduction range from 70 to 90 percent of patients, with the vast majority experiencing a significant reduction in pelvic pain and discomfort.
The vascular specialists at Clarity Care can guide your decision to undergo PCS embolization with consideration to your overall health, potential risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Like any medical procedure, there are some risks associated with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) embolization. While generally safe, possible risks may include allergic reaction, infection, vascular injury, or pulmonary embolism.
You can learn about Clarity Care’s financing options here.
If chronic pelvic pain is affecting your quality of life, it’s time to find answers. Pelvic Venous Embolization offers a proven, minimally invasive solution to help you feel better — without major surgery or long recovery times.