Both men and women are susceptible to advanced diseases, but the weaker sex often suffer from the effects of this disease. Associations with the mention of varicose veins most often occur with swelling of the veins in the legs below the knee, but there is such a thing as varicose veins of the pelvis in women. This is a fairly common disease in which all women of the reproductive period are at risk of infection.
The most common varicose veins in the pelvis are seen in women who do heavy physical work or during pregnancy. This is due to increased stress on the female body, which causes increased venous pressure, which provokes varicose veins in the hip joint.
Sudden pain in the lower abdomen is the first symptom of varicose veins in the pelvis.
Varicose veins of the internal organs are especially dangerous for pregnant women and is one of the main reasons for prescribing a cesarean section. Doctors explain this by the fact that natural childbirth can provoke bleeding and the lives of mother and child will be put at risk. The incidence of this disease during pregnancy is due to the fact that the enlarged uterus is compressed and interferes with normal blood circulation. Elevated hormone levels are also a contributing factor to the appearance of varicose veins in the pelvis.
Due to changes in hormone levels in mature women, the disease can begin to develop during puberty. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is quite difficult to detect varicose veins of the pelvic veins, as the disease, which occurred during this period of life, rarely proceeds with obvious symptoms. An indirect reason for visiting a specialist may be increased secretion from the organs of the female reproductive system.
Quite often varicose veins of the pelvis in women appear during sedentary work in the office. This is caused by the loss of plasticity of the venous walls due to the low mobility of a person. Men are also susceptible to this disease, but much less often than women.
The most obvious symptom of varicose veins in the small pelvis may become more frequent lower abdominal pain, especially when standing, when the body is straight. Often the pain can be caused by sexual intercourse or other severe stress on the body. Also from the small pelvis, varicose veins can spread to the perineum and gluteal area.
Experts call varicose veins a complex disease. This is due to the difficulty of diagnosis, as there are not so many symptoms at the beginning of the disease and they do not manifest themselves clearly. The timeliness of detecting varicose veins gives hope for complete recovery. There is also a high chance of misdiagnosis at an early stage of the disease.
The main causes of the disease
The problem may be poor heredity.
Connective tissue dysplasia is considered a harbinger of their pathology, which causes varicose veins of the pelvic vessels. Often these problems are caused by poor heredity, but people whose lives are combined with the following factors can also suffer from varicose veins:
- Working in an office or other sedentary profession;
- Heavy physical activity if the body is not prepared for them in advance;
- Irregular sexual activity;
- High estrogen hormone;
- Gynecological diseases in women, frequent inflammations;
- Tumors located near internal organs.
Studies have shown a link to the use of contraceptives and other hormonal drugs with the appearance of varicose veins in the pelvis.
The extent of this disease in pregnant women requires special attention. Unfortunately, up to 30% of all cases of the disease occur in women during this period. Doctors tend to believe that pregnancy can trigger the appearance of connective tissue dysplasia in a woman's body, which leads to varicose veins.
Varicose veins of the pelvis in women appear due to an increase in the number of female hormones in the body, their effect has a similar effect on the body with the use of contraception. This is exacerbated by the fact that during fetal development, pressure is exerted on the internal veins of the pelvis, causing increased compression. Additional blood flow pathways are formed, which are no longer needed after birth, and a recovery procedure is needed to remove them.
There is a risk group in the antenatal clinic for those who register, which includes women with a predisposition to inflammation of the reproductive organs. Pregnant women with high estrogen levels also require special attention.
Symptoms of the disease
The main symptoms of varicose veins of the pelvic organs include more frequent pain in the lower abdomen, as well as profuse discharge of mucus from the genitals. But these signs can have other causes, which is why it is so difficult to diagnose such varicose veins in the pelvis in the early stages.
Indirect signs include the detection of swollen veins in the buttocks and perineum. In some patients, lower abdominal pain increases during the first days of the menstrual cycle.
Among the main symptoms showing varicose veins in women are:
- The pain before menstruation is stronger than usual;
- Menstrual irregularities;
- Improving the sensory sensations in the perineal area;
- Pain radiating from the lower abdomen to the waist;
- Increased vaginal sensitivity;
- Frequent urination;
- Weight in the lumbar spine when standing or sitting for a long time.
Depending on the stage of development of pelvic varicose veins and the individual characteristics of each woman, several symptoms can be observed at once or each of them separately. In any case, if one of the listed signs is found, you should visit the gynecologist's office.
Diagnostic methods
There are several methods for detecting and diagnosing varicose veins of the pelvic organs, but Doppler ultrasound is considered essential. When using this procedure, it is possible to use ultrasonic waves to identify the contours of the veins and project them on the screen of the device or take a picture. The picture allows you to find all the places of deformation of the veins, the blood flow in which is reduced.
For a clearer picture, doctors use phlebography in diagnosis. The uterine veins are filled with a substance that gives contrast during fluoroscopy.
The difficulty in diagnosis, along with mild symptoms, is the lack of a specific site for localization, varicose veins of the pelvis.
When diagnosed by a doctor, varicose veins can be confused with a common inflammatory process, the likelihood of such a mistake is particularly high in the early stages.
Important!If the gynecologist has diagnosed inflammation and prescribed therapy, but this does not help to cope with the symptoms, it should be understood that such an effect is not normal and it is necessary to make a second visit to a specialist.
With a great deal of confidence, you can make a correct diagnosis using the following methods:
- Doppler ultrasound;
- Phlebography - quite accurately diagnoses varicose veins of the pelvis;
- Ultrasound of the venous system - in different situations a vaginal examination or transabdominal scan is used;
- Laparoscopy - thanks to this method you can identify varicose veins in the ovaries;
- Selective ovary - this diagnostic method is most likely to detect varicose veins in the pelvis. Therefore, the contrast fluid is injected into the veins of the thighs and subclavian area.
If the diagnosis does not give accurate results, the patient can be sent for further examination. A blood test is ordered.
Classification of the degree of the disease
Depending on the stage and severity of pelvic varicose veins, it can be divided into three categories. An important parameter in this regard is the location of venous dilatation.
- Varicose veins in the small pelvis in the first stage swell the veins up to 5 mm due to the appearance of a small number of deformed areas;
- In the second stage, the veins become 6 to 10 mm in diameter, and a loose ectasia of the plexus occurs in the ovary;
- The last degree is the most dangerous, the patient's venous edema exceeds 10 mm in volume. The third degree of damage is characterized by parametric localization of the main type.
After successful diagnosis and determination of the stage of the disease, appropriate treatment of varicose veins is prescribed.
Conservative methods of treatment
It is best to contact the appropriate specialists once an accurate diagnosis has been made. Diseases associated with varicose veins are treated by a phlebologist. You can get a referral for it only after a diagnosis from a gynecologist, and varicose veins in men are confirmed by a urologist.
The main tasks that the doctor sets on the way to the patient's recovery are:
- Restoration of damaged vein walls and their return to their normal tone;
- Prevention of the formation of subsequent stagnation of blood in the veins of the pelvis;
- Improving the condition of venous tissue.
Complex therapy is used to solve the set tasks, which includes a special diet, rehabilitation exercises, medicines for the treatment of varicose veins and the use of special shaping underwear.
Therapeutic phase of treatment
The main goal of therapy for small pelvic varicose veins is to restore blood flow and normalize the tone of elastic tissues. No less important are the stages of eliminating the unpleasant symptoms of the disease and increasing blood circulation in the veins.
Varicose vein preparations should only be prescribed by a phlebologist. There are two groups of drugs prescribed for this disease. The first (venotamic drugs) - improves the tone of the tissues of the veins, and the second (angiogregants) - prevents the formation of new blood clots.
In case of exacerbation of varicose veins of the pelvis, taking medication in courses is an important part of therapy. The main role in treatment is assigned to venotonic drugs that improve vascular tone. To prevent recurrence of the disease, these drugs are prescribed for prevention.
Preparations for the treatment of varicose veins of the pelvis can be prescribed only by a doctor, self-medication is unacceptable!
In general, varicose vein preparations contribute to:
- Stopping the return flow of blood;
- Normalization of venous tone;
- They help the blood supply to the tissues;
- Reduction of discomfort from the symptoms of the disease.
It should be remembered that the use of drugs should be combined with special exercises and prescribed diet.
Traditional medicine
For the treatment of varicose veins of the pelvis, they often resort to folk methods, among the main treatments of which are herbal infusions that restore normal venous tone. The most popular decoctions are horse chestnut, chaga and dandelion roots.
Hirudotherapy has proven itself well in humans: leeches should be applied to the sacrum and coccyx.
Important to know!It is impossible to let the exposed varicose veins in the small pelvis deviate or to rely only on the means of traditional medicine. This rather dangerous disease must be treated comprehensively, with mandatory medication, and the use of infusions and decoctions can only be an additional tool.
Preventive gymnastics
There are several physical training techniques to restore tissue tone.
- Raising and lowering the toes, the exercise is done in an upright position, the number of repetitions is at least 30, the toes and heels are parallel;
- The same thing, just spreading the socks and aligning the heels 30 times will be enough;
- Repeat the lifting of the toes, opening the heels as much as possible and bringing the toes together;
- Pelvic varicose veins can be treated with breathing exercises, slowing it down, imagining how all the abdominal muscles are involved;
- Lying down, lift your pelvis, supporting it with your hands, and make a "bike" movement, for those who find this exercise difficult, you can replace them with "birch" or alternate them.
Physiotherapy works well if the veins of the small pelvis are dilated, and it is convenient to do it anywhere. The main condition for success will be the regularity of special exercises, but in no case should you overwork during classes.
It is equally important to follow a healthy lifestyle if you are diagnosed with dilatation of the veins. During physical activity you should take regular breaks and if this is associated with a long stay in a static position, you should periodically take breaks, warm up and walk.
A good solution would be to use a contrast shower, varicose veins cause discomfort in the perineum, so it will not be unnecessary to direct the flow of water to this area.
Proper nutrition
It is important to develop a diet so that there are no stool problems, especially constipation. With them, venous dilation may be exacerbated by an increase in internal pressure during defecation. It is also better to exclude eating too spicy and fatty foods, as they affect the formation of blood clots.
The correction of nutrition in varicose veins of the pelvis implies the exclusion of foods high in saturated fat, any alcoholic beverages. Preference in the diet should be given in favor of foods high in fiber (vegetables and fruits, cereals), healthy fats (vegetable oils).
Once you learn from your doctor how to treat varicose veins of the pelvis and what restrictions to apply, you need to take care of the general condition of the body, so it is better to give up bad habits (smoking and alcohol) ontime of rehabilitation.
Possible complications
Varicose veins of the pelvic organs can cause serious complications for the female body, especially in the later stages of the disease. Sometimes the inflammation spreads to neighboring organs, uterine bleeding seems more terrible.
For better protection, you need to understand the dangers of varicose veins in the pelvis. Frequent bleeding in the uterus can contribute to the formation of thrombosis, as well as develop into an extensive inflammatory process.
Forecasting
Pelvic varicose veins in women can contribute to the development of serious consequences, but most often this happens in the later stages, due to the delayed detection of the disease. Therefore, you should pay attention to the pain in pelvic varicose veins, as they are the most obvious symptom, signaling the need to go to the doctor.