Constant pain in the pelvic region in women is often associated with circulatory problems in this plane. Latent enlargement of the pelvic veins is not uncommon. What it is and how to deal with it - we'll consider it in this document!
As medical statistics show, more than half of middle-aged women suffer from recurring 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. The congestion causes 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 progresses slowly throughout a woman's life. Currently, there are no reliable data on the causes of this phenomenon and on effective treatment methods.
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, it leads to constant stagnation of blood. As a result, the vascular wall stretches and the venous cavity expands. It loses its bandwidth and its ability to compress when needed.
At the initial stage, pain in this disease occurs due to the violation 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. The possible risk factors are as follows.
- Physiology of pregnancy. During pregnancy there is a significant increase in circulating blood volume. This leads to an increase in the weight of the pregnant woman. It is believed that an excess of blood volume associated with an excess of body weight contributes to the expansion of the venous bed. In the future, this causes congestion and damage to the venous valves.
- The action of estrogen. During pregnancy, huge doses of estrogen hormones are constantly injected into a woman's body. They are necessary for the preservation and growth of the fetus. Estrogen reduces 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 to 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 limbs?
Varicose veins in the small pelvis are very similar to the condition of varicose veins in the legs. In either case, 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. The veins that become engorged stretch and make the congestion worse. Pelvic venous overload syndrome mainly develops 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 20 and 45 years old;
- in multiple pregnancies.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common complaint of an injured woman is pain of varying intensity. Pain syndrome is constant in nature and not cyclical in nature. Increased pain occurs:
- before the start of menstruation;
- at the end of a hard day's work;
- after standing for a long time;
- during or immediately after intercourse;
- in the later stages of pregnancy.
All of these symptoms are reason enough to see a phlebologist. This condition may be associated with a periodic increase in total body weight of 2-5 kg. This weight is formed mainly due to the effusion of fluid in 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 sex. 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 genitalia, buttocks, legs;
- abnormal menstrual bleeding;
- pain when touching the lower abdomen;
- pain during intercourse;
- painful periods;
- Back ache;
- vaginal discharge;
- general weakness and listlessness;
- feelings of depression and depression.
In most cases, the presence of pelvic stasis syndrome is not obvious, and the diagnosis can only be made after ruling out other diseases. Similar disorders that can have the same symptoms include:
- endometriosis;
- uterine fibroids;
- uterine prolapse (the uterus sinks lower into the pelvis, due to weak pelvic floor muscles).
Laboratory diagnosis and research
For a complete diagnosis of the presence of stagnation, laboratory tests are important. A woman is usually assigned a series of standard exams.
Ultrasound examination of the 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 procedure is painless and takes about 30 minutes. Generally inexpensive and efficient.
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 to 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 medium. In addition, the possibility of radiation exposure to 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 diagnosing pelvic congestion syndrome. It does not use radiation and contrast agent. It's a painless test. The images are of excellent quality. It is the preferred method of choice for diagnosing most cases. The test lasts about 15 minutes and is done on an outpatient basis.