Varicose veins are considered a more “female” disease, often affecting the fairer sex more than men due to gender and genetic characteristics of the structure and function of the body.Pathology is accompanied by pain, swelling and other unpleasant symptoms;It can affect organs other than the legs, threatening a woman's health, so it must be treated immediately.
Reason
The main causes of varicose veins in women are:
- wearing uncomfortable high heels and wearing tight clothing for long periods of time (tight jeans, shapewear);
- overweight, obesity;
- genetic predisposition;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- heavy physical activity;
- frequent nervous disorders;
- foot injury;
- sitting for a long time in a cross-legged position;
- bad habits.
A common cause of varicose veins in the lower limbs and pelvic organs is hormonal imbalance, which manifests when:
- pregnancy, childbirth;
- menopause;
- irregular menstruation;
- taking hormonal medications (eg, birth control pills).
Venous congestion in the pelvis also manifests itself due to:
- long-term inflammatory process;
- Frequent long-term interruptions of sexual intercourse, especially when orgasm is not achieved;
- frequent constipation;
- abortion;
- difficult childbirth;
- curvature or prolapse of the uterus;
- Pelvic tumors.
Token
The first symptoms of varicose veins of the lower limbs:
- tired;
- heavy legs, worse in the evening;
- burning and swelling;
- the appearance of spider veins and blue reticulation.
Without treatment, patients face:
- night cramps;
- itchy skin in affected areas.
In advanced stages, other signs appear:
- Pigmented spots concentrated on the lower third of the legs;
- cyanosis (blue discoloration of some areas of the skin);
- sclerotic changes in subcutaneous tissue.
Varicose veins of the pelvic organs and uterus are characterized by specific symptoms:
- Continuous or intermittent severe abdominal pain, which may become severe after ovulation or during menopause;
- irregular menstruation (dysmenorrhea);
- vaginal discharge (white or colorless);
- sensitivity of the vaginal mucosa;
- pain during sex;
- pressure and heaviness in the pelvic area;
- difficulty urinating (in rare cases);
- swelling of the vulva and vagina;
- venous nodules in the buttocks and perineum.
The intensity and nature of the manifestations are individual.Some women may experience only 2-3 symptoms, while other women may experience all of the above symptoms.
Why is it dangerous?
Treatment of varicose veins needs to be carried out promptly because the disease can cause complications and unpleasant consequences:
- Eczema or trophic ulcers on the legs due to tissue malnutrition.
- Dermatitis in the affected area of the leg.
- Blood clots form due to blood stagnation in the veins.
- Thrombotic phlebitis.
- Pulmonary embolism.The thrombus separates through the bloodstream into the pulmonary artery, and this threatens a person with pulmonary infarction or sudden death.
Uterine diseases negatively affect the functioning of the endocrine system: in severe stages, female hormone levels decrease and ovarian dysfunction occurs, causing irregular menstruation.This process often leads to problems with conception and childbirth, including infertility.
Pathological dilation of the veins of the pelvic organs is also very dangerous:
- uterine bleeding;
- inability to give birth naturally and the risk of spontaneous abortion;
- thrombophlebitis of the uterine wall;
- thrombosis (blockage) of ovarian veins.
Treatment
Including medication and physiotherapy, compression, gymnastics and lifestyle changes will help prevent the development of serious consequences and the need for surgical intervention.
Medicine
Treatment of varicose veins of the pelvis and lower limbs at any stage is impossible without the help of medication.In the early stages, it becomes the basis of treatment, in advanced stages it complements a series of measures.
- Intravenous tonic– Strengthens vein walls, reduces inflammation.
- Anticoagulants act directly and indirectly- Thins the blood, facilitating blood movement in the vessels.The medicine is used under the supervision of a specialist to avoid complications such as bleeding.
- Fibrinolytic drugs– Dissolves blood clots that form and reduces blood clotting.
Additional groups of drugs are prescribed taking into account accompanying symptoms:
- NSAIDs– Eliminate pain, reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Female sex hormone preparationswith endocrine disorders.
- Hemostatic drugs (blood clotting agents)- Hemostatic drugs to treat uterine bleeding.
- Antibiotics- Indicated when there is an infected lesion.
Minimally invasive intervention
- Sclerotherapy– glue the diseased vein from the inside with a special sclerosant to prevent blood vessels from entering.The treated area becomes overgrown with fibrous tissue and gradually heals.
- Laser coagulation– welding varicose veins with laser.
- Radiofrequency ablation- Apply intravascular heat to the vessel wall to seal the vessel lumen.
work
Indicated for the development of complications of the disease and the ineffectiveness of drug treatment.In addition to classical surgical treatments of the lower extremities (various types of phlebectomy), interventions are performed on the genitals and pelvis:
- Embolization of varicose veins in the ovary– through a catheter inserted into the femoral or jugular vein and inserted into the affected area, first a contrast agent is given to hardware monitor the progress of the surgery, then an embolic drug, which blocks the affected vessel.
- Cut– compress the veins in the pelvic area using special medical clips.The intervention process is monitored by endoscopy.
- Excision (complete or partial removal) of blood vessels– is performed from the perineum (labia majora area) or peritoneum.In the first option, an incision is made along the line of the labia, through which the affected areas are removed.In mild forms of pathology, phlebotomy is performed through several punctures if lesions are observed in the vaginal and vulvar areas.When spreading to the ovarian and uterine veins, surgeries are performed through the retroperitoneum using laparoscopy or laparoscopy.
Physical therapy
- Hirudo therapy– treatment with leeches.Increases the elasticity of vein walls, improves blood circulation, prevents blood clots, eliminates pain and swelling.
- Massage– increasing the elasticity of blood vessels, normalizing the functioning of valves, strengthening the walls of veins, can be done only at the early stages of the development of the disease.
- Exercise and exercise therapy– regular exercise has a positive effect on vascular tone, prevents relapses and alleviates the patient's condition.Recommended exercises: birch tree, bicycle, squats, pull-ups.Such gymnastics helps normalize blood flow and eliminate blockages in blood vessels.Also useful: swimming, jogging, cycling.
- Harden.Due to the alternating heat and cold, the tone of the vessel walls increases, the speed of blood circulation increases, microcirculation in tissues is restored, the amount of blood flowing into the arteries increases, outflow from the lymphatic and venous systems and metabolic processes are activated.You need to start bathing with warm water.
- UHF therapy- exposure to continuous pulsed electric fields of ultra-high frequency.It relieves pain, reduces inflammation, improves blood flow and stimulates the immune system.
- Muscle stimulation– Effects on the muscle of low-intensity electric current.Helps speed up blood circulation, eliminating swelling, pain and discomfort.
Depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the severity of the pathology, other physical procedures are used - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, pressure therapy, darsonval, balneotherapy.
Compression clothing
The positive effect of hosiery is especially due to the uniform redistribution of pressure on the muscles, followed by gentle massage of the veins, which leads to:
- the speed of blood flowing through deep vessels increases;
- Stagnation of blood and lymph is eliminated;
- The severity of signs of varicose veins is reduced;
- The load on the legs is reduced;
- Complications during pregnancy, childbirth and after surgery are prevented.
For varicose veins of the lower extremities, stockings, knee socks, and elastic bandages are used;To cause damage to the pelvic organs, shorts and tights are used.
Diet
Varicose veins in the legs and pelvis require dietary adjustments to provide the necessary nutrients to varicose and weakened veins.Dietary nutrition includes eating lots of vegetables and fruits, rich in plant fiber and protein foods.You should drink 1.5-2 liters of water per day.
You should exclude alcoholic and carbonated drinks, fatty, fried, pickled and smoked foods from the menu, reduce the amount of empty carbohydrates in the diet to lose weight, reduce the load on blood vessels and improve blood circulation.
Folk recipes
In the treatment of varicose veins in the legs and pelvis, it is allowed to use home remedies in combination with drug treatment.They can be used only after consulting a doctor.
The most effective plants for treating varicose veins:
- horse chestnut;
- dandelion;
- Kombucha
Infusions, decoctions for internal and external use, and ointments are prepared from them.
prevent
Preventive measures are useful not only for women at risk of pathology, but also for those who already have varicose veins:
- have an active lifestyle;
- normalize rest and work schedules;
- Use gentle birth control methods;
- contrast bath;
- perform daily exercises;
- eat properly;
- see a massage therapist;
- take venom prevention courses;
- prevent constipation;
- minimize stress.
Special attention should be paid to disease prevention for pregnant women;According to statistics, pathological dilation of the veins in the pelvic region and lower limbs is observed in 40% of cases.