Varicose Veins Around Your Vulva During Pregnancy?

When you’re pregnant, you can end up with bulging veins around your vulva. These varicose veins can cause discomfort and other symptoms. Knowing more about vulvar varicose veins is important, so that you can determine if you should look into having them treated.

Are Vulvar Varicose Veins Dangerous?

Vulvar varicose veins can develop due to changes that occur during pregnancy, such as higher levels of progesterone and more pressure in your pelvic region. When the volume of blood in your pelvic area increases during pregnancy, the length of time it takes to flow out of your veins and back to your heart decreases. This causes blood to accumulate in your veins, including the veins in your vulvar region. You can develop varicose veins around your vulva, as well as in your legs, while you’re pregnant.

Vulvar veins aren’t considered dangerous, although they can cause discomfort. You might experience pressure in the vulvar region, along with swelling and soreness. These varicose veins might also bulge and take on a dark bluish appearance. While they’re uncomfortable, they’re not usually a cause for concern.

Can Vulvar Varicose Veins Bleed and Burst?

Vulvar varicose veins can become swollen, but they’re unlikely to burst and bleed. Certain activities, such as standing for long periods of time or exercising, can make them worse. However, these veins usually don’t bleed or break open. Since the flow of blood in varicose veins is low, bleeding is easy to manage if it does occur.

Do They Go Away After Pregnancy?

Should you wait to see what happens with vulvar varicose veins after pregnancy? These veins can disappear without treatment in about 6 weeks after giving birth, but some women continue to have them longer than that. If you have vulvar varicose veins that don’t go away after this time, you can look into finding treatment options to eliminate them. If you’re dealing with a lot of discomfort or other symptoms due to these veins during pregnancy, you might also want to explore possible treatment options for relief.

Treatment Options for Vulvar Varicosities

What can you do to ease the symptoms of vulvar varicose veins? You can try a few self-care measures at home, such as wearing a support garment or placing cold compresses on the affected area. Elevating your legs might also help, since this helps support circulation. Changing positions so that you’re not sitting or standing for a long time might also provide relief.

When self-care measure are not enough to ease vulvar varicosities, you can look into treatment options, such as sclerotherapy. This type of treatment involves the injection of a solution into the affected veins. This foam or liquid solution closes the affected veins, which prevents more blood from entering and building up. Blood goes to surrounding veins instead, and the treated veins end up collapsing.

Other treatment options are available as well to treat venous insufficiency that affects the legs and pelvic area, which can help ease vulvar varicosities that don’t go away on their own. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be done to seal off veins by delivering heat. When the affected veins have heat damage, they seal themselves and stop blood from getting in. Micro-phlebectomy is another treatment option to consider for vulvar varicose veins. This procedure involves making a few or more tiny incisions in order to remove varicose veins.

Finding a Vein Doctor in Atlanta, Georgia

If you need treatment for vulvar varicose veins in Atlanta, Georgia, please contact VEINatlanta today to make an appointment. While you meet our vein physicians, you’ll be able to learn more about available treatments. You can also visit us to view our varicose vein treatment options before your appointment.