[Women with pelvic complaints and atypical varicose veins, varicose veins of the vulva and insufficiency of the pelvic veins; treatment with embolisation]

Abstract

In three women, aged 34, 52 and 30 years, respectively, who suffered from chronic pelvic symptoms such as a heavy feeling and abdominal pain, atypical varicose veins were observed on the medial side of the upper thighs together with varicose veins of the vulva; these are indicators of insufficiency of the pelvic veins. The symptoms were reduced following embolisation of the insufficient pelvic veins. These symptoms are also known as the pelvic congestive syndrome. The exact correlation between insufficiency of the pelvic veins and the complaints mentioned above has not yet been determined, but it seems that in most patients the symptoms diminish or disappear following embolisation of the insufficient pelvic veins. When patients complain of chronic pelvic pain of unknown aetiology, one should look for atypical varices and vulval varices and consider pelvic-vein insufficiency as a possible cause.