TL;DR:
- Varicose veins affect up to 50% of pregnant women and are caused by hereditary vein wall stretching, hormonal changes, and increased blood volume/compression from the growing uterus.
- Symptoms: visible purple-blue bulges, spider veins, calf swelling, and heaviness, sometimes with pain, itching, or burning.
- Untreated varicose veins may lead to venous ulcers, skin discoloration, or increased risk of thrombosis.
- Prevention: Use compression stockings from the 3rd month, manage weight, avoid prolonged sitting/standing, cross-legged positions, excess salt, tight clothing, hot baths, and sun. Opt for walks, swimming, leg elevation, massages, and roomy shoes.
- Treatment during pregnancy is limited to topical creams (e.g., horse chestnut extract) for symptom relief; surgical/medical interventions are only possible postpartum.
- Consult a phlebologist postpartum for diagnostics and treatment if symptoms persist.
Varicose veins during pregnancy occur in up to 50% of women. Although they are considered a common affliction, downplaying them and considering them normal is wrong. Varicose veins can be cured, as well as prevented with proper care and attention to your legs. So how to prevent and treat varicose veins that appear during pregnancy?
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous vessels visible just under the skin, which are the result of venous insufficiency. They look like bulges and are usually purple-blue in color. Varicose veins on the legs are a common symptom, appearing during pregnancy. It is most common in women who have an anatomical tendency usually located in the small pelvis or abdominal cavity. ** The appearance of varicose veins during pregnancy depends on the hereditary propensity of the vein walls to stretch.** This propensity is most often revealed during pregnancy, because then female sex hormones are at a high level, and the venous system is overloaded with the increased amount of blood circulating in it.
Causes of varicose veins in pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the tightness in the small pelvis increases, which later moves to the abdominal cavity. ** The enlarging uterus and fetus compress the venous bed, especially the iliac veins and the inferior vena cava ** Depending on the anatomy and the action of hormones, the ovarian veins dilate and the vernal varices form. These processes lead to a significant increase in pressure in the venous system. Due to the location, the veins in the legs "feel it" the most. The phenomena occurring in the body of a pregnant woman also contribute to the formation of varicose veins in the small pelvis, perineum and vulva. If, while still pregnant, a woman is not very active and sits a lot, the venous vessels become overloaded, and the condition of the veins can significantly deteriorate.
How to recognize the symptoms of venous insufficiency?
Symptoms of venous insufficiency in pregnancy can be the formation of spider veins, or visible to the naked eye redness in the form of networks of blood vessels on the legs. In addition, recurrent swelling of the calves and often a feeling of heavy legs are characteristic. Sometimes women feel throbbing in their legs and even itching, burning and intense pain in the area of the veins. Varicose veins, however, primarily produce visual effects. ** During pregnancy, bulges of dark blue or purple color appear on the legs.** These clearly outlined blood vessels under the skin can sometimes also take the form of a purple stripe. Varicose veins, however, should not be underestimated and considered merely a natural occurrence. Indeed, they can be one of the symptoms of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities, which in some cases can lead to discoloration of the skin, wounds on the legs, or so-called venous ulcers, and even thrombophlebitis. Varicose veins can also increase the risk of venous thrombosis in the deep venous system by up to three times. For this reason, care must be taken to prevent varicose veins, and if they have already formed, to prevent them from developing.
Prevention of venous insufficiency
Proper care should already be taken before the appearance of varicose veins on the legs. For the reason that varicose veins on the legs during pregnancy are very common, women tend to underestimate them. Then, only after the appearance of unsightly changes on the legs, they begin to look for solutions on how to get rid of them. It is important to remember what unpleasant symptoms varicose veins bring, and after pregnancy take care of proper prevention of legs. Doctors recommend that every woman, after the 3rd month of pregnancy, should start wearing compression stockings regardless of whether or not she has had previous problems with varicose veins. These products can also be used after the baby is born, when hormones are raging and the legs are heavily stressed. Compression stockings prevent the formation of new varicose veins and slow the widening of existing ones. Besides, wearing stockings helps reduce the risk of venous thrombosis. To effectively prevent varicose veins during pregnancy, it is also a good idea to control your weight and avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. Pregnant women should also avoid salt, putting one leg over the other, wearing clothing that is constricting and restrictive, as well as hot baths and prolonged sunbathing. Instead, they are advised to lie down with their legs elevated, take regular swims or walks, get foot and calf massages, and wear shoes with wide toes and low heels.
How to treat varicose veins developed during pregnancy?
Treatment options for varicose veins during pregnancy are severely limited. During this period, it is impossible to surgically remove varicose veins – such an opportunity arises only after childbirth or after nursing. Pharmacological treatment of varicose veins is also not recommended. This is because any such intervention may affect the fetus. ** To relieve leg pain and prevent varicose veins during pregnancy, you can use creams and gels that contain horse chestnut extract.** It has properties by which it increases the tension of the blood walls, relieves swelling in the legs and has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, it is worth remembering that ointments only relieve pain, and do not remove varicose veins that have already formed. Sometimes after childbirth, varicose veins disappear on their own. However, if this does not happen, you should consult a specialist, i.e. a phlebologist. Then he may refer the woman to venous Doppler ultrasound, which in a non-invasive way allows you to assess the condition of the blood vessels. After this test, the doctor decides whether to send the woman for drug treatment, surgery or sclerotherapy. Exercises to improve muscles during pregnancy and gels to alleviate varicose vein symptoms can be an adjunct to treatment, but will never replace professional treatment. It is also important to remember that varicose veins not only look unsightly, but can also be the cause of a serious disease that, if ignored, can lead to complications and, in extreme cases, can even be life-threatening.
Conclusion
Varicose veins during pregnancy are common but not inevitable or harmless. Prevention starts with simple steps like compression stockings, staying active, and avoiding prolonged sitting or standing. While treatment options are limited during pregnancy, topical creams and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms. Post-pregnancy, consult a specialist if varicose veins persist. Ignoring them risks serious complications. Prioritize your vein health now and beyond—your legs will thank you.
