Chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins are generalized diseases: according to statistics, in developed countries one in three people suffer from them. A special risk group includes the fair sex, to whom this pathology causes physical and psychological discomfort. In this article we will see why vascular diseases occur in women, what are their signs and symptoms, what to do to treat and prevent this ailment.
According to statistics, men are less likely to suffer from varicose veins than women, who are 1. 5 times more likely to have vascular diseases. What is the reason for the gender characteristic of this pathology?
In addition to these exclusively female prerequisites for the development of pathology, varicose veins in women can be triggered by the following factors:
Pathological dilation of the pelvic vessels is a common problem faced by 15-25% of women of reproductive age. This disease is often confused with infectious and inflammatory processes located in the reproductive organs of the female genitourinary system. In connection with the wrong diagnosis, inappropriate treatment is prescribed and the patient does not receive relief. Consequently, the problem of proper diagnosis and treatment of pelvic varicose veins is an urgent problem in modern phlebology and gynecology.
The blood supply to the pelvic organs is due to the uterine and ovarian veins, as well as the venous plexuses: uterovaginal, vesicovaginal, uviform, rectal plexus, etc. The cause of pelvic varicose veins in women is a violation of blood flow in these vessels. It is usually due to blood congestion, which can be caused by the following:
Expert opinion The main symptom of this venous disease in women is the presence of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It is represented by pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to the pubic area, sacrum and perineum.
Peak pain usually occurs in the second half of the menstrual cycle, complemented by severe PMS and dysmenorrhea. Psychosomatic disorders can join these symptoms.
As noted above, the diagnosis of pathology is complicated by the fact that the symptoms of this venous disease in women can be misinterpreted as signs of purely gynecological problems. Therefore, to make the correct diagnosis it will be necessary to perform transvaginal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, phlebography and, in some cases, diagnostic laparoscopy.
Both conservative and surgical approaches are used to treat varicose veins in the small pelvis.
In the first case, the goal of therapy is to increase the tone of the venous walls, normalize the nature of blood flow and blood viscosity. To solve these problems, patients are prescribed venotonics, hirudotherapy, ultrasound and magnetotherapy sessions, as well as exercise therapy. If conservative therapy for this disease of the pelvic vessels is not effective, surgical intervention is performed - sclerotherapy or embolization with veins in pregnant women.
Varicose veins are a problem for most pregnant women. It is due to the changes that occur in the body of the future mother during pregnancy. During this period, there is a complete restructuring of the hormonal background, which is directly related to the state of the vessels. For example, the growth of estrogens leads to changes in the structure of the muscle layer of the venous walls and vasodilation.
In addition to the hormonal changes that accompany the period of gestation and delivery of a baby, pregnancy and childbirth can lead to the development of venous diseases in pregnant women and for other reasons. First of all, it involves an increase in body weight and a concomitant increase in load on the lower extremities, as well as excessive stress experienced by a woman in labor during delivery.
During pregnancy, there is an increase in the total circulating blood volume, which occurs due to an increase in the content of plasma and erythrocytes.
Depending on the stage of development, varicose veins in the legs manifest in different ways:
There are two main approaches to solving this problem: conservative and surgical. The first of them is usually used in the initial stages of the development of the pathology, while the second is justified to combat the later stages of the disease.
Conservative therapy includes taking medication, using external products, attending physical therapy sessions, wearing compression stockings, correcting physical activity, daily routine, nutrition, and drinking regimen. Also, you can use additional remedies to combat varicose veins, for example Normaven® Foot Cream. Its regular application in the lower extremities helps to eliminate swelling, fatigue, heaviness and discomfort in the legs, the disappearance of night cramps and the decrease in the severity of the vascular pattern.
Thanks to its natural composition, the cream can also be used during pregnancy.
The objective of the surgery is the total or partial removal of the varicose vein. Modern vascular surgery can offer the following types of operations:
When it comes to treating vein diseases in women aged 50 to 60 and in older patients, surgery is generally not performed as it is stressful on the body.