Planning for Baby? Why Vein Treatment Should Come First
If you’re planning to grow your family but are also dealing with painful, bulging varicose veins, you might be wondering about the timing. Specifically: Should I use contraception during vein treatment?
The short answer is yes. Here is why timing your treatment before pregnancy is a game-changer for your comfort and safety.
Safety First: Protecting Your Future Pregnancy
While some procedures, like radiofrequency ablation, have been shown to be safe under local anesthesia for certain patients, others carry more unknowns. Specifically, the long-term effects of Varithena (foam sclerotherapy) on a developing fetus are currently unknown.
To ensure the highest safety standards for your future baby, we recommend staying on birth control until your treatment cycle is fully completed.
Why "Treating Before Conceiving" Matters
Pregnancy puts an immense amount of pressure on your circulatory system. If you have "leaky" superficial veins that aren't treated, the extra blood volume and hormonal changes during pregnancy will likely make your symptoms much worse. You may experience:
Increased swelling and heaviness.
Persistent throbbing.
Painful nighttime leg cramps that disrupt your sleep.
By closing down these problematic veins before you conceive, you set yourself up for a much more comfortable and tolerable pregnancy.
What Happens After Treatment?
Once your vein specialist gives you the "all clear," you don't have to wait!
No "Wait Period": You can start actively trying to get pregnant as soon as the day after your final treatment is finished.
During Pregnancy: Even after successful treatment, I strongly recommend wearing compression stockings as much as possible while pregnant. This helps manage the "re-routing" of blood flow and protects your legs as your body changes.
Post-Delivery Follow-Up: It’s always a good idea to schedule a re-evaluation with your vein specialist after delivery. This is especially important if you’ve had a "multiples" pregnancy (twins or triplets), as the extra strain can sometimes cause new varicose veins to develop.
