Vulval varicose veins during pregnancy. New support for effective compression.

Abstract

Varicose veins are one of mankind's commonest afflictions. Physicians are confronted frequently by varices and their complications. Varicosities of pregnancy have a distinct pattern which is quite different from the varices in nonpregnant individuals. The varicose veins usually appear during the second or third month of pregnancy and become progressively larger until the last trimester. They may be unilateral or scattered over both thighs and legs. They frequently involve the vulva. The importance of pregnancy is emphasized by the fact that 62% of the women attending a varicose vein clinic first sought medical advice because of pregnancy, and the varicosities were diagnosed as incidental findings. 1 Susceptible individuals develop progressively larger varices with each succeeding pregnancy. The veins have a characteristic scattered distribution and give the appearance of multiple incompetent perforators. Varices can become huge after multiple pregnancies. If the varicose veins of pregnancy are effectively compressed, all symptoms and