Pelvic varicose veins are caused by failure of the valves in the pelvic veins. When these valves fail, the blood falls down the veins the wrong way. This is called Pelvic Vein Reflux (PVR).

Veins of the female pelvis diagram - Diagram showing cause of pelvic varicose veins pelvic congestion and vaginal varicose veins

Pelvic vein reflux can cause:

• Pelvic varicose veins


• Pelvic congestion syndrome


• Varicose veins of the legs


• Varicose veins of the vagina and vulva


• Varicose veins of the buttocks and perineum


• Haemorrhoids (Piles)

The Whiteley Clinic introduced a treatment for the pelvic vein reflux and pelvic varicose veins in 2000 and has now published many papers on this. The technique is performed under local anaesthetic and is guided by X-ray control. The embolisation is performed via a vein in the neck - the Jugular Vein. Thus the technique is called "transjugular coil embolisation".

Long-term results of coil embolisation for pelvic varicose veins and pelvic vein reflux

Pelvic Varicose Veins - Long-term results:

Since The Whiteley Clinic started publicising the technique of coil embolisation, many other clinics around the world have started trying to reproduce the results. Some doctors who do not perform this technique are critical of the treatment. This research paper from The Whiteley Clinic shows good long-term results from Pelvic Vein Embolisation (PVE). This helps give patients confidence when deciding whether to have this procedure for any of the conditions listed above.

See more about the long-term results of coil embolisation of Pelvic Vein Reflux:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26085475

See more about Pelvic Vein Embolisation:

https://thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/procedures/pelvic-vein-embolisation/