Why Varicose Veins are More Common in Females

Why Varicose Veins are More Common in Females : Varicose veins are one of the most common conditions in the legs. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 20 to 25 million Americans suffer from varicose veins.

Of those suffering from this condition, women are more likely to develop varicose veins. According to the statistics, only 17% of men and about 33% of women are diagnosed with varicose veins.

Varicose veins are usually caused by weak or damaged valves. These valves help the blood travel from your legs back to your heart. If they are weak or damaged, the blood can pool in the veins causing them to twist or stretch.

For most people, these spider-like veins can just be aesthetically unpleasant, but they can also cause pain or discomfort.

Read more to learn what are the main reasons why varicose veins are more common in women and how you can reduce your risk of getting them.

5 Reasons Why Varicose Veins Are Common In Females

There are several risk factors such as gender, age, or lifestyle. However, women are more likely to have varicose veins due to factors associated with hormonal changes and clothing.

1. Higher progesterone levels than men

One of the reasons why women are prone to varicose veins than men is progesterone, a hormone that women have higher levels of. Research suggests that women who have varicose veins have higher progesterone levels.

Progesterone is a hormone with many great functions in a woman’s body. It is made primarily after ovulation and it is crucial for a healthy pregnancy, as well as for the overall health of a woman’s reproductive system.

Progesterone also contributes to the relaxation of blood vessel walls. Studies show that when these walls are relaxed, the tiny blood vessels inside the valves also relax. In time, this can contribute to the weakening of the valves, leading to the formation of varicose veins.

2. Regular use of contraceptives

Hormonal birth control is known to increase the risk of both varicose veins and blood clots. Pills are considered to carry the highest risk, but issues can arise from other hormonal contraceptives such as the patch or the ring.

While the risk is considered fairly small, it cannot be ignored. Women who take combined birth control pills, which contain both synthetic estrogen and progestin, may have additional side effects.

Birth control pills inhibit ovulation giving you a constant dose of synthetic hormones that mimic the estrogen and progesterone your body normally makes.

It can be said they have a similar effect to pregnancy on the body. However, pregnancy is a natural state that lasts for a limited time, whereas women often take birth control pills for many years, which can increase the risk of side effects.

The combination of estrogen and progestin may also not be ideal for some women. Research shows that high estrogen levels contribute to varicose veins. (1)

3. Common during pregnancy

Pregnancy comes with natural changes in hormonal levels and weight which can also put some strain on the body.

For instance, the level of progesterone increases and stays high throughout pregnancy. This is necessary, but as stated earlier, progesterone relaxes the blood vessels, which can in turn weaken the valves and cause varicose veins.

Also, during pregnancy, the blood flow increases, which puts further pressure on the veins and the valves.

Pregnancy also comes with body strains, especially in the pelvic area, which can damage veins. There’s also a fairly steady weight gain, that can in turn put more pressure on the legs and subsequently the veins and the valves.

Varicose veins tend to get worse with each pregnancy, so if this issue started already with your first pregnancy, you can expect it to become more prominent in your next one.

The good news is, varicose veins developed during pregnancy usually fade on their own. Successive pregnancies, however, make this process more difficult, and you might notice some that won’t fade at all.

4. Menopause and aging

The risk of varicose veins increases with age for both men and women. Women, however, also deal with menopause, which comes with a lot of hormonal shifts.

The process starts with perimenopause when your cycle becomes more irregular and the changes in hormones are more abrupt.

Many women find themselves going through periods with very high estrogen, only to have it go back to normal a few months later. The same is valid for progesterone.

Ovulation may happen more rarely and levels of progesterone afterward are less stable. These hormonal changes, though natural, can increase the risk of developing varicose veins.

The decrease in hormones during menopause will likely contribute to varicose veins. At this point, there’s a chance some valves have thickened and the changes that occur due to the decrease in hormones could worsen the condition.

5. Choice of shoes and clothing

Women who are fond of wearing high heels and stockings, which can reduce blood flow in the legs, are at a greater risk of developing varicose veins. The weakened blood flow in the legs makes it harder for the valves to work.

While you may not always want to choose other clothing options, it is good to switch to shoes that allow your feet to be in a more natural position whenever possible.

If you wear heels or tight hoses, using compression stockings when possible can help relieve the symptoms of varicose veins.

How To Reduce Risk of Varicose Veins

While you can’t completely prevent varicose veins, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of developing them.

Start by creating a healthy lifestyle for yourself. Make sure you move daily. It doesn’t have to be strenuous exercise. Light movement is enough to get your blood flowing.

Also, make sure you don’t stay too long in one position. If you have a sedentary job, take breaks as often as possible and get up from your desk and move a little.

A healthy diet, low in salt, will also help, as will maintaining a healthy weight. Elevating your legs will also improve blood circulation and help reduce the risk of varicose veins.

This is a great thing to do during pregnancy as well. You can’t prevent hormonal shifts and some weight gain is natural even if you eat healthily, but elevating your legs will help improve circulation in your legs.

Compression stockings are also a great solution. They can both reduce the risk of varicose veins but also provide relief in case you already have them. You can wear them the entire day as long as you remember to take them off before bed.

When In Doubt, Consult a Vein Specialist!

Home remedies like using compression stockings and changing lifestyle habits can help alleviate the pain. In addition, over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin can be prescribed as well for some quick relief.

However, If you have symptoms that are impacting the quality of your life, such as pain, swelling, or heavy legs, consult a vein specialist.

For instance, VISP — Vascular & Interventional Specialists of Prescott, can help with rapid diagnosis and treatment options for vein-related issues, such as varicose veins.

When these remedies don’t work anymore, laser treatments may be recommended by a vein specialist, which helps reduce its appearance.

Sclerotherapy and ablation with catheter assisted methods are options when the varicose veins are too large for laser. Finally, surgical removal is the last resort in the more severe cases.