Why Are Varicose Veins Common in Women?
November 10, 2017
It’s no secret that women are more likely to develop varicose veins than men. But why?
The answer may be found in a woman’s hormone levels, specifically progesterone. Progesterone is made by both men and women, but women have more of it in their bodies. It’s responsible for regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle, maintaining some organs and several other functions in the body. Progesterone can also cause blood vessel walls to relax, a factor that may play a role in the development of varicose veins.
As the blood vessel walls relax, the tiny valves inside the vessels also relax. Then, as the blood flows through the vein, it puts pressure on the vessel walls, making the vessel weaker and more susceptible to collapse. Since women have more progesterone in their bodies, they are inherently at higher risk for developing problems with their veins.
In fact, a study of pregnant women found that the progesterone levels were much high among women who had developed varicose veins during their pregnancies than those who did not. Another study examined the effects of progesterone on varicose veins in the legs. It found that the veins have receptors for progesterone that make them more sensitive to the effects of the hormone.