During my second trimester, the discomfort became unbearable. “I’m feeling a lot of pressure,” I confessed to my midwife at my routine check-up. “You know,” I added, with a touch of drama, “down there.”
“Down there?” my midwife echoed. “You mean your perineum?”
I nodded vigorously. “It feels like everything down there could just drop out! There’s so much pressure, and it’s all swollen. Honestly, I think my entire lower half might just relocate to my knees!”
“Well,” she said calmly, “it sounds like you have vulvar varicosities.”
Vulvar what? My inner 13-year-old cringed at the word, “Eww!” Great, I had varicose veins in a rather sensitive area. My midwife explained that the increased blood flow and the weight of my expanding uterus were causing the swelling. It was akin to having pregnancy hemorrhoids—same issue, just a different block over.
Sadly, there’s no magic cure for vulvar varicosities. For relief, she recommended a vulvar supporter—a thick elastic band I’d wear over my underwear to lift and support the area. I promptly ordered one online, because there was absolutely no way I was buying that in person. It resembled a jock strap with a hint of lace, meant to indicate the front. Trying to see it beneath my growing belly was a challenge.
From across the room, my husband mumbled, “Very sexy.”
I shot him a look that clearly communicated, “If you ever want to have any more of that, you better zip it right now.”
While the supporter eased my discomfort, I felt emotionally drained by my situation. What was I supposed to say when someone asked about my pregnancy? “My vulvar varicosities are quite bothersome today, but thankfully, I have my vulvar supporter. How about you?”
As it turns out, my midwife had also dealt with vulvar varicosities during her pregnancy. She reassured me that I wasn’t alone and that other expectant mothers were facing the same struggle.
But who were these other women? Besides my midwife and me, I didn’t know anyone else with this issue. Pregnant women freely discussed nausea and cravings like they were badges of honor, but vulvar varicosities? Crickets. Did celebrities like Jennifer Aniston or Taylor Swift experience this? Who knew? I trudged through my pregnancy, silently wrestling with thick elastic bands between my legs.
After my daughter arrived, the pressure faded, and my veins returned to normal by my six-week postpartum checkup. The supporter quickly became a distant memory.
Now, whenever I ask a pregnant woman how she’s feeling, the typical response is “Fine” or “Ugh, morning sickness.” But I can’t help but wonder if she’s secretly battling vulvar varicosities. I’d love to offer her support—or at least point her toward where to find a vulvar supporter.
For more insights on pregnancy, check out this excellent resource from WomensHealth.gov. If you’re navigating your fertility journey, consider reading more about it in our other blog post here. Additionally, Make A Mom is a great authority on the subject of home insemination kits.