Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome: Comprehensive Review

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is a poorly understood condition that can be associated with chronic pelvic pain and could impact quality of life. The diagnosis is often made by exclusion of other causes of pelvic pain. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of our review was to provide an update on the etiology, anatomy, physiology, identification, and the therapeutic management of PCS. <b><i>Method:</i></b> We conducted a literature review involving publications from 2003 to 2024 in PubMed, Elsevier, MEDLINE, as well as manual searches of primary and review articles using keywords such as “pelvic veins”, “embolization”, “venography”, “pelvic congestion syndrome”, and “chronic pelvic pain”. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> PCS remains poorly understood. Symptoms can be non-specific and difficult to distinguish from other diseases; yet it is an important cause of chronic pelvic pain in women. To date, there have been only a small number of randomized trials and high-level evidence is still lacking. <b><i>Outlook:</i></b> We call for an increased awareness of PCS and additional clinical studies in a large number of patients.