Vaginal varicose veins
Keywords: veins, varicose, equine, vagina, hemorrhageIn older mares, varicose veins occasionally develop in the vagina during pregnancy. The reason for their presence is obscure because there is no effect of gravity on vaginal veins. However, weakening of the veins with age, increased blood flow to the genitalia under the influence of estrogens and retrograde pressure due to abdominal filling during advanced pregnancy, may all be contributing causes. Under the effect of Laplace's law, these vessels grow larger with time.
Occasionally vaginal veins may rupture and become a source of hemorrhage, seen at the vulvar lips. Hemorrhage is seldom severe but it can provoke suspicions of impending abortion. Dried blood on the vulvar lips may also attract flies.
The vagina of this postmortem specimen has been everted to demonstrate the affected vessels.
Smaller varicose veins are visible below; in the lateral wall of the vaginal vestibule in a Standardbred mare.
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Vaginal varicose veins can be up to 4 or 5 mm in diameter and are usually seen in the vestibule rather than the cranial vagina.
Numerous treatments have been described including cryotherapy, ligation and vasocontricting medications such as Preparation H ® which contains Phenylephrine in some (but not all) countries. Varicosities shrink after foaling and treatment is not required in most cases.
