Constant pelvic pain in women is often associated with circulatory problems at this level. Latent dilation of the pelvic veins is not uncommon. What it is and how to deal with it - we will discuss in this material!
According to medical statistics, more than half of middle-aged women experience recurrent lower abdominal pain. Approximately half of all these cases are related to circulatory disorders. This is manifested by blood stagnation and subsequent outflow of intercellular fluid into the pelvic cavity. Congestion leads to compression of the soft tissues of the organs. This causes the development of pain syndrome. The cause of this pathological process are varicose veins of the small pelvis.
It usually begins to develop during pregnancy and then progresses slowly during a woman's lifetime. Currently, there are no reliable data on the causes of this phenomenon and on the methods of effective treatment.
Development mechanism
In veins that function normally, blood flows in only one direction. The valve system prevents backflow. In case the valves lose their integrity and elasticity, a gradual reverse flow of venous blood develops. With a prolonged pathological process, it leads to constant blood stagnation. As a result, the vascular wall dilates and the vein cavity dilates. It loses bandwidth and compression capability when needed.
In the initial phase, the pain in this disease occurs due to the injury 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 volume of circulating blood. This leads to an increase in the weight of the pregnant woman. Excess blood volume combined with excess body weight is thought to contribute to venous dilation. In the future, this will cause congestion and damage to the venous valves.
- Estrogen action. During pregnancy, huge doses of the hormone estrogen are constantly injected 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 pelvic veins. Their location is generally unfavorable for the beginning of pregnancy. Therefore, the beginning of fertilization in most cases leads to the development of venous insufficiency.
Is there a connection 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, which help the blood flow in the heart, are affected. The function of the valves to prevent the return flow of blood is impaired. When the valves collapse, the blood stagnates in the veins. Veins that become full stretch and worsen congestion. 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 usually occur in women:
- between 20-45 years;
- during multiple pregnancies.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The most common complaint of an injured woman is pain of varying severity. The pain syndrome is of a constant nature and has no cyclicity. Severe 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 reason enough to go to a phlebologist. This condition may be associated with a periodic increase in total body weight by 2-5 kg. This heaviness is mainly due to the outflow of fluid into the abdominal cavity of the small pelvis.
There are many other nonspecific symptoms that occur with varying intensity. In general, symptoms are more likely to appear 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 may also include:
- swelling of the vulva and vagina;
- varicose veins of external genitalia, buttocks, legs;
- abnormal menstrual bleeding;
- pain when touching the lower abdomen;
- pain during intercourse;
- painful menstruation;
- back pain;
- vaginal discharge;
- general weakness and apathy;
- feeling depressed and depressed.
In most cases, the presence of pelvic path syndrome is not obvious, and the diagnosis can be made only after the exclusion of other diseases. Similar disorders that may have the same symptoms include:
- endometriosis;
- uterine fibroids;
- uterine prolapse (the uterus sinks lower into the pelvis, as a result of weak pelvic floor muscles).
Diagnosis and laboratory research
Laboratory tests are important for a complete diagnosis of the presence of stagnation. Women are usually assigned a standard set of examinations.
Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. It will help assess the condition of the uterus and other pelvic organs. It can also help visualize blood flow and the presence of varicose veins in the pelvis. The procedure is painless and lasts about 30 minutes. Generally cheap and efficient.
Phlebogram. This test has been widely used in the past to diagnose blood stagnation 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 lasts 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 exposure to pelvic radiation 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. Does not use radiation and contrast medium. This is a painless examination. The pictures 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.