Persistent pain in the female pelvic area is usually related to problems with the circulatory system in this plane. Potential enlargement of pelvic veins is not uncommon. What it is and how to deal with it-we will consider it in this material!
Medical statistics show that more than half of middle-aged women will experience recurrent lower abdomen pain. About half of all these cases are related to circulatory diseases. This is manifested by blood stagnation and subsequent infiltration of intercellular fluid into the pelvic cavity. Congestion causes compression of the soft tissues of the organs. This can trigger the development of pain syndromes. The cause of this pathological process is varicose veins in the small pelvis.
It usually begins to develop during pregnancy and then slowly develops throughout the woman's life. Currently, there are no reliable data on the causes of this phenomenon and effective treatments.
Development mechanism
In a normally functioning vein, blood flows in only one direction. The valve system prevents backflow. When the valve loses its integrity and elasticity, the venous blood gradually flows backwards. With the prolongation of the pathological process, this will cause the blood to continue to stagnate. As a result, the blood vessel wall stretches and the venous cavity expands. It loses bandwidth and the ability to compress when needed.
In the initial stage, the pain of this disease is caused by the invasion of the nerve endings that innervate the vascular wall of the venous bed.
possible reason
At present, science does not know the exact cause of this disease. Possible risk factors include the following.
- Pregnancy physiology. During pregnancy, the circulating blood volume increases significantly. This can cause pregnant women to gain weight. It is believed that the combination of excessive blood volume and excessive body weight can cause the venous bed to expand. In the future, this will cause congestion and damage to the venous valve.
- The role of estrogen. During pregnancy, a large amount of estrogen will be continuously injected into the woman's body. They are necessary for the preservation and growth of the fetus. Estrogen reduces the risk of miscarriage by relaxing the muscles of the uterus. On the other hand, these substances have a negative effect on the contractility of blood vessels.
- Individual anatomy obstacles. In some patients, individual anatomical features related to the small pelvic veins are shown. Their location is not conducive to pregnancy in principle. Therefore, in most cases, the beginning of fertilization leads to the development of venous insufficiency.
Is this situation related to varicose veins of the lower extremities?
Varicose veins in the small pelvis are very similar to varicose veins in the legs. In both cases, the venous valves that help blood flow to the heart are affected. The function of the valve to prevent the return of blood is impaired. When the valve collapses, blood stays in the vein. Veins that become congested stretch and make the congestion worse. Pelvic vein overload syndrome mainly occurs near the uterus, fallopian tubes, vulva and even vagina. This condition is usually related to weight gain, which is unavoidable during pregnancy.
Varicose veins are usually seen in women:
- Between 20-45 years old;
- During multiple pregnancy.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common complaint of injured women is varying degrees of pain. Pain syndrome is constant in nature, without any periodicity. Exacerbation of pain:
- Before menstruation;
- At the end of a hard day's work;
- After standing for a long time;
- During or immediately after sexual intercourse;
- In the later stages of pregnancy.
All these symptoms are good reasons to see a phlebologist. This situation may be related to a periodic increase of 2-5 kg in total body weight. This weight is mainly due to the penetration of liquid into the abdominal cavity of the small pelvis.
There are many other non-specific symptoms that appear with varying intensities. In general, symptoms are more likely to appear at the end of the day, standing for a long time, 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 on the external genitalia, buttocks, and legs;
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding;
- Soreness when touching the lower abdomen;
- Pain during sexual intercourse;
- Painful periods;
- Back pain;
- Vaginal discharge;
- General weakness and indifference;
- Feelings of depression and depression.
In most cases, the existence of pelvic stasis syndrome is not obvious, and the diagnosis can only be made after other diseases have been ruled out. Similar diseases that may have the same symptoms include:
- Endometriosis;
- Uterine fibroids;
- Uterine prolapse (due to weak pelvic floor muscles, the uterus sinks into the pelvis).
Diagnostics and laboratory research
In order to fully diagnose the presence of stagnation, laboratory testing is important. Women are usually assigned a set of standard exams.
Ultrasound examination of pelvic organs. This will help assess the condition of the uterus and other organs in the small pelvis. It can also help visualize blood flow and the presence of varicose veins in the pelvis. The process is painless and takes about 30 minutes. Generally cheap and effective.
Vein diagram. In the past, this test was widely used to diagnose blood stagnation in the pelvic cavity, but today, if possible, the procedure has been replaced by a computed tomography scan. The test involves injecting a special dye into a vein in the groin and then using X-rays. This process takes approximately 30-45 minutes and is performed in an outpatient clinic. The test is painless, but there is a risk of allergic reactions to the contrast agent. In addition, the possibility of radiation exposure to pelvic organs is not ruled out.
Computed tomography is often used to diagnose pelvic varicose veins. This method allows you to visually inspect the anatomy of the small pelvis and identify varicose veins in the small pelvis. This is due to radiation exposure and is not recommended as a test for pregnant women.
Magnetic resonance imaging is a very useful test for diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome. It does not use radiation and contrast agents. This is a painless examination. The image quality is superb. It is the preferred method of diagnosing most cases. The test takes approximately 15 minutes and is performed in an outpatient clinic.