Ovarian Vein Embolisation

Ovarian Vein Emobolisation / Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

This condition is a collection of symptoms (pelvic pain/heavy periods and or painful intercourse) caused by a varicose or incompetent veins draining the ovaries.

A not dissimilar condition is seen in men called varicocele, but causes somewhat different symptoms and is easier to diagnose due to the external nature of the testis.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome is the result of the venous valves at the top of the ovarian veins being improperly formed or becoming dysfunctional. This allows venous blood to travel the wrong way into the pelvis engorging the pelvis with blood in the premenstrual to menstrual phase or sometimes all the time.

Pelvic pain is usually at its strongest premenstrually to menstrually and is often associated with painful intercourse (dysparuenia). The period is often heavy with this condition. Symptoms do vary widely between individuals with asymptomatic patients (no symptoms or discomfort) not requiring treatments. Ovarian vein incompetence can be a cause of varicose veins in the leg. Clinical diagnosis of this condition may be challenging and usually requires the addition of medical imaging evaluation.

Ovarian Vein Embolisation is the name given to treatment of this condition, which essentially means blocking the ovarian vein from inside the vein. This procedure takes about 30 minutes and is either performed by placing a fine plastic tube (catheter) into the ovarian vein from the right groin or via the jugular vein in the right side of the neck. The catheter is then placed deep into the ovarian veins and they are blocked using coils and sclerosant foam (polidocanol). Patients are able to go home 2 hours after the procedure.

Associate Professor Stuart Lyon has been assessing and treating this condition for 14 years and is highly experienced in all endovenous treatments for ovarian vein incompetence (and including varicose vein treatments).

Please Contact Us for more information and consultation.

Link: http://www.sirweb.org/patients/chronic-pelvic-pain/

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