Vulvar Varicosities — Causes, Symptoms & Relief

Most women are aware of varicose veins on the legs. Far fewer have heard of the ones that can develop on the vulva during pregnancy, even though between 4% and 22% of pregnant women experience vulvar varicosities. They can appear anywhere on the outside of the vagina (most commonly the outer labia) and on the upper thighs. The discomfort tends to become more noticeable as the day goes on, after long periods of standing or sitting, and often around bowel motions.

Noticing them for the first time can be unsettling, particularly if they have not been mentioned in your antenatal care. The reassuring news is that vulvar varicosities are common in pregnancy, usually harmless, and almost always resolve after birth. This article covers why they happen, what helps, and when to seek further support.

What are vulvar varicosities?

Vulvar varicosities are varicose veins that develop on the vulva, the external genital area, including the labia. The veins become stretched, enlarged, and often visible under the skin. In pregnancy they are a common and usually harmless consequence of the circulatory changes your body is going through. Outside of pregnancy they are less common and sometimes point to an underlying vascular issue worth investigating.

What do they look like?

They look different from one person to the next. Common features include:

A bluish or purplish tinge to the skin where veins have become more prominent
Raised, rope-like or lumpy veins on the outer labia, perineum, or upper inner thighs
Swelling or puffiness in the vulvar area
Often one side more affected than the other

If you are unsure what you are looking at, your GP, midwife, or a pelvic health physiotherapist can confirm. This is something clinicians working in pregnancy see regularly.

Why vulvar varicosities happen in pregnancy

Several factors come together. Blood flow to your pelvis increases. Blood travelling from your legs back to your heart slows down. Pregnancy hormones soften the walls of your blood vessels. Together, these changes mean the veins in your vulva carry more pressure than they are used to, which can cause them to stretch, swell, and become visible.

It is not a sign that anything has gone wrong. It is a predictable response to the circulatory changes of pregnancy.

What they feel like

Symptoms vary from one person to the next. The most common are:

Heaviness or a dragging, full feeling around the vaginal area
Swelling that worsens after long periods of standing, sitting, or walking
Pain or discomfort that typically builds through the day and peaks in the evening
A noticeable flare on the toilet, particularly when straining to pass a bowel motion
A lumpy feeling when you touch the area
Visible veins, often with a blueish tinge, that were not there before

Vulvar varicose veins can absolutely be painful. Many women describe a constant, uncomfortable awareness of the area. It is not a sharp pain, but a heaviness that makes sitting, walking, and sleeping more difficult than they should be.

Getting a diagnosis

In most cases, a clinical examination is enough. Your GP, midwife, or a pelvic health physiotherapist can identify vulvar varicosities on sight. If anything is unclear, an ultrasound may be ordered. That is usually all that is needed.

How do you treat vulvar varicosities during pregnancy?

The goal is straightforward: reduce the pressure in your vulva. Here is what that looks like in everyday life.

Everyday habits that make a real difference

Listen to your body - if it is asking you to rest, rest.
Change position regularly - rather than long periods of standing, put your feet up.
Keep constipation in check - straining on the toilet adds pressure exactly where you do not want it. Fibre, water, and a toilet foot stool that lifts your knees into a squatting position can all help.
Avoid heavy lifting, pushing and pulling - where you can.
Modify your exercise - swap high-impact movement for swimming or Pilates, which keep you moving without loading the pelvic floor.
Support yourself when you cough, sneeze or laugh - press one hand gently against your vulva. The counter-pressure it gives the veins really does help.
Do your pelvic floor exercises - they support the whole area.
Use ice packs - 15 to 20 minutes, every couple of hours. A dedicated perineum ice and heat pack is shaped for this area and much easier to use than improvising with a bag of frozen peas.

Compression for the vulvar area

This is the step most people skip, and it is often what makes the biggest difference. Firm-fitting underwear with a pad, or pregnancy compression shorts and leggings designed for this, apply gentle, targeted pressure that takes the strain off the stretched veins. Many women describe a properly fitted garment as feeling like gentle, supportive pressure that lifts the heaviness almost immediately.

Our pick is SRC pregnancy compression shorts and leggings, which are made specifically for this kind of support and comfortable enough to wear all day. Compression socks can also help by improving circulation through the lower legs.

One important note: avoid wearing compression socks over the top of leggings that are already compressive. Stacking the two applies too much pressure to the same area. Compression shorts and compression socks worn separately, without overlap, are fine together.

Can you prevent vulvar varicose veins in pregnancy?

Not entirely. The underlying causes are hormonal and circulatory, and some bodies are simply more prone to varicose veins than others. You can, however, meaningfully reduce your risk of severe symptoms by starting the everyday habits above early, introducing compression support from the second trimester if you are prone to varicose veins, staying well hydrated, and keeping as active as your pregnancy allows.

Do labial varicosities go away after pregnancy?

Yes, in almost every case. For most women, symptoms fully resolve within 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and often sooner. If symptoms persist beyond 8 weeks postpartum, or if you develop them when you are not pregnant, it is worth a follow-up with your GP. In rare cases outside of pregnancy, vulvar varicose veins can point to an underlying vascular issue that benefits from specialist review.

Can I have a natural birth with vulvar varicosities?

Yes, almost always. As labour progresses, pressure in the veins drops, and vulvar varicosities typically do not interfere with a vaginal birth. A common worry is whether the veins could bleed heavily or burst during delivery. The reality is that if they bleed, it is usually minimal and easily managed by your birth team. Your midwife or obstetrician can flag them in your notes so everyone involved is aware and prepared, but they very rarely change the plan.

Where to start

If this is new for you, a few things we would recommend:

Book an appointment with your GP, midwife, or a pelvic health physiotherapist for an accurate diagnosis. The earlier this happens, the sooner your management plan can start.
Invest in a firm-compression pregnancy garment designed specifically for vulvar and pelvic support. Our vulvar varicosities collection has the specific garments we stock for this, including SRC shorts and leggings.
Be patient with yourself. Pregnancy is demanding enough without expecting yourself to simply push through discomfort.

You do not have to quietly put up with this. Every recommendation above is grounded in current clinical practice, and most are supported by the published literature. A pelvic health physiotherapist can adjust the plan to your body and your pregnancy.