[Venous insufficiency and oral contraception]

Varicose veins are commoner in women than in men. The recrudescence of venous symptoms during pregnancy or premenstrual syndrome indicate the preponderant role of sex hormones in their etiology. Oral contraception may thus have effects on the veins. These effects can be broadly divided into two groups: risks of thromboembolism (clotting disorders, venous wall changes and hemodynamic abnormalities). These risks are rare but serious, venous pathology (loss of venous tone, slowing of blood flow, valve insufficiency, trophic lesions, etc.) Since the availability of low dose oral contraceptives, and since improved knowledge of contraindications, vascular repercussions have almost disappeared except when there is a vascular past history which must be routinely sought.