Pregnancy and Varicose Veins
Varicose veins in pregnacy can cause discomfort, swelling and
phlebitis. During pregnancy, there is an increase in the volume of
circulating blood that stretch the veins and the enlarged uterus puts
pressure on the pelvic veins. Hormones that are released during
pregnancy dilate and weaken the vein wall. Over the course of
pregnancy, the veins are overwhelmed and lead to varicose veins,
discomfort, swelling and pain. If you develop new varicose veins
during pregnancy, you could expect improvement in the veins up to
three months after childbirth. However, after additional pregnancies
more abnormal veins are likely to remain and often the stretched
valves never return to normal function. If you are newly pregnant and
have varicose veins, graduated compression maternity support tights
or stockings can manage the symptoms. Minimize the effect of the
pregnancy on your veins by elevating legs whenever sitting, walking
for at least 30 minutes every day and ankle exercises when unable to
elevate legs.
It is a Myth to believe that it is better to wait until after your last
pregnancy before getting treatment for your veins. This may have
been good advice when groin surgery and stripping of vein was the
only definitive treatment. With new minimally invasive procedures, the
injury to tissue is minimal and you get a better outcome having them
treated at early stage. If treated early, your subsequent pregnancies
will cause significantly less damage to the veins. Your next pregnancy
does not have to include the dreaded increased risk of DVT, aching,
fatigue, swelling, pain and restless leg. If you are planning a family
and have varicose veins that are symptomatic, it is advisable to
attend your doctor or a vascular surgeon for assessment.
Vulva & Breast varicose veins
Other areas affected during pregnancy are the breast and intimate
areas. Varices across the chest and breast can cause discomfort but
usually distressing due to cosmetic appearence. Vulval or labial
varicosities can cause aching, swelling and discomfort. The
discomfort occurs even in women who are not pregnant and can
increase in size during each pregnancy without treatment.
Most patients just need a touch up cosmetic (visual) or ultrasound-
guided sclerotherapy sessions of their Vulval veins. Injection
sclerotherapy of Breast veins and Foam Sclerotherapy of the vulva
veins are performed between pregnancies to clear them, so you don’t
have those large vulvar varices to deal with at delivery time.
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