Varicose Veins and Pregnancy – Frequently Asked Questions

Varicose veins in pregnancy are fairly common. For some women they’re harmless and go away without treatment over time, and for others they can cause pregnancy leg pain or cosmetic concerns for which you might want to seek treatment.

If varicose veins in pregnancy are affecting you, read our FAQs below to understand the causes, risks and non-surgical treatment options.

At Palm Clinic in Remuera we’ve been treating varicose veins for over 25 years. All our treatments are surgery-free and in most cases require no downtime from work. You don’t need a GP referral to seek treatment, simply contact our reception team to book a consultation. 

Varicose Veins In Pregnancy FAQs

1. Does pregnancy cause varicose veins?
2. Will varicose veins in pregnancy go away by themselves?
3. What can I do to relieve pregnancy leg pain?
4. Do I need varicose vein treatment?
5. Can I have varicose vein treatment while pregnant?
6. What if I plan to have more children?
7. Can I have my veins treated while breastfeeding?
8. What does varicose vein treatment involve?
9. What is the varicose vein treatment cost and is it covered by insurance?

Meet Chloe, aged 40, pregnant with her second child

Chloe came to see us about concerns over varicose veins in pregnancy. Hers is a typical story:

“I didn’t have issues in my first pregnancy but I’d developed some veins in the past after working on my feet for long periods of time. Varicose veins also run in my family.

“The pregnancy leg pain I was feeling included cramps, aching, soreness and itching. I started wearing compression stockings to relieve some of the pregnancy leg pain.

“I’ve seen new spider veins appear on my legs and ankles. There are more blue veins and clusters of red veins in some areas.

These are the questions Chloe had for us, which are helpful for anyone concerned with varicose veins in pregnancy or pregnancy leg pain.

We asked a recent patient, Chloe, to describe her experience having developed varicose veins during her second pregnancy.

1. Does pregnancy cause varicose veins?

Yes pregnancy can cause varicose veins to develop, and it can cause existing varicose veins to worsen. The reasons for this are:

Hormones: Increased oestrogen during pregnancy is likely to be a factor.

Pregnancy circulation: During pregnancy your blood volume increases which puts more pressure on the veins in the legs. Additionally the womb can press on veins causing further obstruction to pregnancy circulation

Weight: Carrying extra weight during pregnancy puts additional pressure on the legs causing swollen veins pregnancy.

2. Will varicose veins in pregnancy go away by themselves?

For some people swollen veins pregnancy disappear by themselves in the months after the pregnancy, but for others they persist and require treatment.

3. What can I do to relieve pregnancy leg pain?

If you’re experiencing pregnancy leg pain, or if you think you’re at risk of swollen veins pregnancy, it’s best to wear compression stockings. These will relieve some of the discomfort, improve pregnancy circulation and lessen the damage of varicose veins in pregnancy.

Walking and elevating your legs can also promote better pregnancy circulation and relieve pregnancy leg pain.

4. Do I need varicose vein treatment?

People experience varicose veins in pregnancy differently. For some people they will cause no discomfort and will be barely noticeable on the legs. For others they may cause considerable pregnancy leg pain and cosmetic concern, in which case treatment after delivery could be a good course of action.

It is possible for swollen veins to worsen over time or in subsequent pregnancies so that is another factor to consider.

5. Can I have varicose vein treatment while pregnant?

We do not recommend treatment during pregnancy. It’s best to wait at least three months after the pregnancy before having treatment.

6. What if I plan to have more children?

Before recommending treatment, we will take into account whether you plan to get pregnant again. It will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as everyone’s body is different.

If, during your pregnancy, your symptoms are severe or you really don’t like the look of your legs, you may want to have treatment after the current pregnancy, and before the next one.

On the other hand, if the symptoms are manageable and you are planning to have another baby, then we do recommend waiting until the end of your final pregnancy.

The main thing to consider is whether or not the varicose veins in pregnancy are severe enough to warrant treatment between pregnancies.

7. Can I have my veins treated while breastfeeding?

Yes, it’s safe to have varicose vein treatment while breastfeeding. We do recommend a minimum of 12 hours stand down from breast-feeding after sclerotherapy however.

8. What does varicose vein treatment involve?

There are two treatment options we recommend. Both are walk-in, walk-out treatments that require no down time from work in most cases:

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) uses injections to close off the varicose veins after which time the body absorbs them away.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) uses radiofrequency energy to close off the veins.

Before having treatment you will need to have a consultation with one of our vein doctors and an ultrasound to create a map of the varicose veins to guide treatment.

9. What is the varicose vein treatment cost and is it covered by insurance?

Varicose vein treatment is generally covered by medical insurance if the condition is causing pain or discomfort. You can read more about this here.

The cost of the initial consultation is $210. During the consultation your doctor will discuss a treatment plan based on your individual needs and will advise you on the costs for this.

If you have more questions, please contact us or schedule a consultation with our vein care experts at Palm Clinic today!