Pregnancy
While it is true that spider veins are most common in women between 30 and 50, that doesn’t mean men can never get them. Pregnancy can sometimes cause these varicose veins when they become more visible due to weight gain. Pregnancy can also cause other changes in blood flow that may result in spider veins. For example, after you give birth, your body needs to make additional blood to support the growth of your new baby. This higher demand increases your heart rate and blood pressure.
These factors combined can cause increased blood flow throughout your body, including your legs. High blood volume can lead to swollen ankles—a condition known as edema—which increases your chances of developing spider veins near the skin surface on your legs. The good news is that these spider veins can often be treated using a minimally invasive procedure like sclerotherapy or laser therapy (depending on their size and severity). So, if you’re worried about how pregnancy could affect your legs, talk to one of our vascular specialists about treatment options.
