Post Pregnancy Specialist

Why does pregnancy cause vein problems?

Pregnancy causes considerable changes in your body, and these can adversely affect the health of your legs.

The fluid in your body increases by as much as 50% during pregnancy, and you retain more sodium from the salt you eat. These two factors can cause edema – swollen legs and ankles.

Levels of hormones like relaxin, estrogen, and progesterone change dramatically during pregnancy, as well, causing your veins to dilate and weakening the vein walls. At the same time, your growing baby is compressing the femoral veins in your thighs, increasing pressure on the veins in your lower legs.

These factors make pregnancy a tough time for your legs. Although the causes of vein problems reduce after you give birth, the effects of pregnancy can leave you with lasting issues.

What post-pregnancy vein problems might I have?

The most common post-pregnancy vein problems are:

Varicose veins

Varicose veins develop because of the pressure on your veins and obstructions to the blood flow in your legs. They show up as twisted blue, purple, or red coils that look unsightly and may be tender or itchy.

Vulvar varicosities

Vulvar varicosities are varicose veins that affect your vulva. They're quite common during pregnancy, and most women find they disappear over the months following delivery. If you have vulvar varicosities that don't clear up, Vascular Vein Centers provides effective treatments.

Post-pregnancy is also a time when your chances of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) increase. DVT risk is higher during pregnancy anyway, but the risk peaks after giving birth. This is because your body must deal with high hormone levels and an enlarged uterus, as well as an increased blood volume.

How are post-pregnancy vein conditions treated?

If you have vein problems after giving birth, it's advisable to wait before undergoing treatment. Hormonal changes continue to affect your veins for some months after having your baby and when you're breastfeeding.

You might find that once the hormones return to normal, the problem veins go away too. If they don't, the Vascular Vein Centers team provides advanced treatments for conditions like varicose veins and vulvar varicosities, including:

• Foam sclerotherapy using Varithena®
• Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)

These treatments seal off and collapse the affected veins, so your body sends your blood through healthy veins instead. The treated veins shrivel and disappear over time. These are all minimally invasive outpatient procedures that the Vascular Vein Centers team performs in-office.

To find out more about treating post-pregnancy vein problems, call Vascular Vein Centers today or book an appointment online.