Why Do Varicose Veins Occur With Pregnancy?
By Jonathan Calure, M.D. Each year I treat over one thousand women seeking relief from the discomfort and appearance of varicose veins. The single most common medical history I hear from these patients recounts the appearance of or worsening of varicose veins with pregnancy. None of these women regret these veins when compared to the joy of bringing new life into the world, however, they do make swim team practice a bit less fun. The normal physiologic changes in a woman’s body are responsible for the emergence of varicose veins. As pregnancy proceeds, blood volume increases. Veins are the main storage space for the increasing amount of fluid. In the head and upper body, gravity pulls the venous blood back to the chest. In the lower half of the body, the venous blood flows against gravity. One way valves in the leg veins help to propel the blood flow back to the heart when the leg muscles contract. In some women, these valves are overwhelmed and give way, allowing the venous blood to d
