Increased Lower Extremity Pain During Menstruation in Patients With Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Abstract

We noted some patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) whose pain worsened during menstruation. Limited research is available regarding whether lower extremity pain from CVI worsens with menses. The aim of this survey is to determine if there is significant lower extremity pain with menses in patients with CVI and what factors may be associated with it. Patients with lower extremity pain and CVI were asked whether their pain worsened during menses. Data was collected between March 2017 and August 2020. Participants consisted of 278 consecutive patients with ages ranging from 26 to 57 years (mean, 41.81 ± 8.52 years). Data was also collected on patient age, degree of venous reflux on their most recent duplex, and presenting symptoms. For statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance tests were used. Among all patients, 40% did experience worsening of lower extremity pain with menses. There was no significant mean age difference between those who reported worsening and those that did not (P = .513). There was no significant mean difference in degree of presenting symptoms and those that reported worsening and those that did not (P = .092). Also, there was no significant mean difference in the right great saphenous vein reflux in those that reported worsening and those that did not (P = .585). Lastly, there was no significant mean difference in the left great saphenous vein reflux in those that reported worsening and those that did not (P = .648). Of all patients surveyed, 40% reported worsening of their lower extremity pain during their menstruation. The degree of venous reflux, age, and degree of presenting symptoms of patients does not seem to be associated with whether they reported worsening or not. These findings suggest that some women with CVI experience increased pain during menstruation. These findings may have important implications in understanding what is modulating increased lower extremity pain during menstruation in patients with CVI.