Constant pain in the pelvic area in women is often associated with circulatory problems in this plane. Latent enlargement of the pelvic veins is not uncommon. What is it and how to deal with it - we will consider in this material!
As shown by medical statistics, more than half of middle-aged women experience recurrent pain in the lower abdomen. About half of all these cases are associated with circulatory disorders. This is manifested by stagnation of blood and subsequent effusion of intercellular fluid into the pelvic cavity. Congestion leads to compression of the soft tissues of the organs. This provokes the development of pain syndrome. The cause of this pathological process is varicose veins of the small pelvis.
It usually begins to develop during gestation and then slowly progresses throughout the woman's life. Currently, there is no reliable data on the causes of this phenomenon and on the methods of effective treatment.
Development mechanism
In a normally functioning vein, blood flows in only one direction. Backflow is prevented by the valve system. In the event that the valves lose their integrity and elasticity, a gradual reverse flow of venous blood develops. With a prolonged pathological process, this leads to constant stagnation of blood. As a result, the vascular wall stretches and the vein cavity expands. It loses its bandwidth and the ability to compress when needed.
At the initial stage, pain in this disease occurs due to infringement of the nerve endings that innervate the vascular walls of the venous bed.
Probable causes
Currently, science does not know the exact cause of this disease. Possible risk factors include the following.
- Physiology of pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is a significant increase in the circulating blood volume. This leads to an increase in the weight of the pregnant woman. It is believed that excess blood volume in combination with excess body weight contributes to the expansion of the venous bed. In the future, this provokes congestion and damage to the venous valves.
- The action of estrogens. During pregnancy, huge doses of estrogen hormones are constantly thrown into a woman's body. They are necessary for the preservation and growth of the fetus. Estrogens reduce the risk of miscarriage by relaxing the muscles in the uterus. But on the other hand, these substances negatively affect the contractility of blood vessels.
- Individual anatomical disorders. In some patients, individual anatomical features are revealed in relation to the veins of the small pelvis. Their location is, in principle, unfavorable for the onset of pregnancy. Therefore, the onset of fertilization in most cases leads to the development of venous insufficiency.
Is there a relationship between this condition and varicose veins of the lower extremities?
Varicose veins in the small pelvis are very similar to the condition of varicose veins in the legs. In both cases, the valves in the veins that help blood flow to the heart are affected. The function of the valves to prevent backflow of blood is impaired. When the valves collapse, blood stagnates in the veins. Veins that become engorged stretch out and make the congestion worse. Pelvic venous overload syndrome develops mainly near the uterus, fallopian tubes, vulva, and even the vagina. The condition is usually associated with weight gain, which is inevitable during pregnancy.
Varicose veins are usually seen in women:
- between the ages of 20-45;
- during multiple pregnancies.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common complaint of an injured woman is pain of varying severity. Pain syndrome is constant in nature and does not have any cyclical nature. Increased pain occurs:
- before the onset of menstruation;
- at the end of a hard day at work;
- after being on your feet for a long time;
- during or immediately after intercourse;
- in the later stages of pregnancy.
All these symptoms are sufficient reason to see a phlebologist. This condition may be associated with a periodic increase in total body weight by 2-5 kg. This weight is formed mainly due to the effusion of fluid into the abdominal cavity of the small pelvis.
There are many other non-specific symptoms that appear with varying intensity. In general, symptoms are more likely to occur at the end of the day or after prolonged standing or even after intercourse. In some cases, the pain can be severe and affect personal and social relationships.
Signs can also include:
- swelling of the vulva and vagina;
- varicose veins of the external genital organs, buttocks, legs;
- abnormal menstrual bleeding;
- soreness when touching the lower abdomen;
- pain during intercourse;
- painful periods;
- backache;
- vaginal discharge;
- general weakness and apathy;
- feeling overwhelmed and depressed.
In most cases, the presence of pelvic stasis syndrome is not obvious, and the diagnosis can only be made after excluding other diseases. Similar disorders that can have the same symptoms include:
- endometriosis;
- uterine fibroids;
- prolapse of the uterus (the uterus sinks lower into the pelvis, as a result of weak pelvic floor muscles).
Diagnostics and laboratory research
For a complete diagnosis of the presence of stagnation, laboratory tests are important. A woman is usually assigned a standard set of examinations.
Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. It will help assess the condition of the uterus and other organs of the small pelvis. It can also help visualize blood flow and the presence of varicose veins in the pelvis. The procedure is painless and takes about 30 minutes. Generally cheap and effective.
Phlebogram. This test was widely used in the past to diagnose stagnation of blood in the pelvic cavity, but today, if possible, the procedure is replaced by computed tomography. The test involves injecting a special dye into a vein in the groin and then using X-rays. The procedure takes about 30-45 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis. The examination is painless, however, there is a risk of developing an allergic reaction to the contrast agent. Also, the possibility of radiation exposure of the pelvic organs is not excluded.
Computed tomography is often used in the diagnosis of pelvic varicose veins. This method allows you to visually examine the anatomy of the small pelvis and identify varicose veins of the small pelvis. This is due to radiation exposure and is not recommended as a test in pregnant women.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a very useful test in the diagnosis of pelvic congestion syndrome. It does not use radiation and contrast agent. This is a painless examination. The images are of excellent quality. It is the preferred method of choice for diagnosing most cases. The test takes about 15 minutes and is done on an outpatient basis.