What can I do about bulging veins?

Varicose veins and hemorrhoids are a poorly publicised fact of life for many women, particularly, during pregnancy. Pat Thomas offers some soothing remedies When you think of varicose veins and haemorrhoids – if you ever think of them at all – you probably think of elderly women in droopy support tights. So when you’re pregnant, it may come as a shock to realise that you’re one of a significant number of women who develop varicosities. They run in families, and pregnant women are particularly prone, if they’re carrying twins or have to stand or sit for long periods of time, for instance at work. How they happen The body’s veins are responsible for conducting blood back to the heart, and veins in the legs work against gravity to do their job. To assist this process, leg veins have valves that close between heartbeats to prevent the blood flowing backwards. A varicose vein occurs when a valve weakens, putting more pressure on other valves, and causing blood to stagnate. Varicosities, whether on the leg, in your bottom or vulva, appear as soft, swollen, dark blue bulges, and are often itchy and painful. Haemorrhoids, or piles, are varicose veins of the rectum. Genes, obesity, lack of exercise, a low-fibre diet, vitamin deficiency, liver malfunction, pregnancy, or constipation, all cause these nasties. But why during pregnancy? Increased blood volume puts your veins under pressure. In addition, hormonal changes relax the muscular walls of the blood vessels. This makes it even more difficult for your veins to move blood from the lower body, back to the heart. The increasing weight of your uterus will put more stress on the pelvic veins, and if you’re constipated, this can also interfere with your pelvic circulation. As a result, blood may pool in your lower body, and you may get the bulging, painful varicose veins on the legs, vulva or rectum. Treatment for varicose veins involves surgery to remove the protruding veins – but this is usually reserved for severe, chronic varicosities.

Swelling in vaginal area - what is happening?

Many swellings can occur in pregnancy and may indicate various conditions. The best thing is to have your own doctor look at this. Swellings can occur as a result of infection, pressure and venous changes. You say that they are similar to haemorrhoids, it sounds as if it could be varicose veins. Varicosities can occur on the labia and perineum (between the vaginal opening and the anus). Usually, these occur as a result of increasing pressure of the growing uterus and the pooling of blood, which is normal for pregnancy. They are like bulges in the vessel wall and can be compressed with a finger but will refill right away when pressure is stopped. They are not sore but may be uncomfortable. The best treatment for these is rest. Avoid sitting or being in one position for too long. Walking is good exercise because it keeps the blood moving. They may go away in the second trimester but may reoccur with the increasing pressure of the third trimester. They never cause any harm, and the birth should not affect them. If an episiotomy needs to be done, it can be, as the swellings collapse during the procedure. Relief can sometimes be found in applying counter pressure against them with a sanitary pad. Other swellings may be caused by a mild prolapse of the vaginal walls, or the uterus itself; but this is usually the result of having several babies. Genital or venereal warts (condyloma or human papilloma virus) are indicated by a single wart or clusters of warts. They feel gritty, and may spread. This is a virus, and should be treated with an acidic solution (trichloroacetic acid) during pregnancy.  Another type of swelling, usually caused by the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea, is the enlargement of the Bartholin gland. This gland sits in the middle of the labia and sometimes swells to the size of a plum. It is painful and usually inflamed. These must be drained if they are infected, and antibiotic therapy is what is used to treat it.  I would try to get an appointment right away to have this swelling investigated. The sooner the swelling is diagnosed, the quicker you can begin treatment and alleviate your discomfort.