Medically reviewed by Shubha Varma, MD, on September 25, 2025
Menopause is a significant life change for women. While hot flashes and night sweats get most of the attention, your veins are also a part of the story. If you’ve noticed menopause-associated varicose veins, spider veins, swelling, or leg pain, in addition to the other changes you're experiencing, you’re not alone.
Why?
Because, like everything else, your veins age, too.
Add to this life experiences, such as family history of vein issues, pregnancies, working on your feet all day, a sedentary lifestyle, or carrying extra weight (all of which add pressure to overworked veins), it’s no wonder that varicose veins affect as many as 40 million Americans, per the Society of Vascular Surgery.
In this blog, you’ll find clear, practical insights and advice if vein problems have become part of your menopause story.
We consulted with Dr. Shubha Varma, Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein specialist and lead physician at CVR vein clinic in Brooklyn, New York.
🗽Schedule a consultation with Dr. Varma in Brooklyn, NY: BOOK ONLINE HERE.
📞Prefer to talk to a Patient Services Representative first? Call: 240-965-3915
📅Schedule online at any of CVR’s other 120+ vein clinics nationwide: CLICK HERE
Unlike our mothers before us, you don’t have to live with discomfort or embarrassment about how your legs look during and after menopause. The experienced board-certified vein doctors at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) offer gentle, minimally invasive outpatient vein treatments that relieve leg pain, reduce swelling, and restore confidence—with little to no downtime needed. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward healthier, lighter legs.
📞 Call Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
Menopause isn’t just about hot flashes; it also changes the way your heart and blood vessels work. According to a study reported by the National Library of Medicine (NIH), before menopause, estrogen helps keep blood vessels open, balances cholesterol levels, and fights inflammation. When estrogen drops, your heart and veins lose some of that protection.
This hormonal shift also explains why so many women notice higher cholesterol, rising blood pressure, more belly fat, and even changes in blood sugar after menopause. These changes can add up, increasing the risk of heart disease and vein problems.
And it’s not just estrogen at play. Women make small amounts of testosterone, which helps keep blood vessels flexible and healthy. After menopause, testosterone levels drop too. That means arteries can get stiffer, blood pressure can rise, and blood sugar becomes harder to control, making insulin resistance or even type 2 diabetes more likely.
Are we having fun yet?
The good news? Healthy lifestyle choices still have a powerful impact. Eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet, staying active, quitting smoking, and finding ways to manage stress all protect your heart and veins — no matter what stage of life you’re in.
But if you’ve noticed leg pain, swelling, or varicose veins, don’t wait! These are signs of vein disease. A quick visit with a board-certified Center for Vein Restoration vein specialist can help you understand what’s happening and get you on the path to relief. Schedule your consultation with Center for Vein Restoration today and take the first step toward healthier legs and a healthier you.
👉 Book your consultation with a CVR vein specialist today and discover how simple relief can be.
As menopause begins, your body produces less estrogen and progesterone. These hormones once helped your veins stay flexible and healthy. When they dip, vein walls can become stiffer or thicker, and valves that keep blood flowing up your legs may weaken. Blood can slow down or pool, especially in your lower legs. That’s how varicose veins and spider veins can start to appear.
Age contributes to vein problems as well. Older vein walls naturally lose strength, and many women gain weight or slow down on exercise, both of which add pressure to veins. As menopause arrives, these changes add up:
According to ScienceDirect, 31 percent of menopausal women develop varicose veins. Some women experience symptoms like heavy or achy legs, while others simply notice vein changes on their skin.
Signs You Might Notice
Don’t Wait for Vein Problems to Get Worse!
If you’ve noticed new varicose veins, spider veins, or leg discomfort during menopause, now is the time to act. Book an appointment with Center for Vein Restoration and take the first step toward lighter, healthier legs, before symptoms hold you back.
👉 Book your consultation with a CVR vein specialist today and discover how simple relief can be.
Menopause affects many systems in your body—including the veins in your legs. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with vein problems. You can take steps that make your legs feel strong, light, and healthy again.
You’re in control. Here’s how to take action:
Move and Elevate
Gentle movement, such as walking or cycling, helps your calf muscles pump blood upward. When you rest, try elevating your legs for a bit to ease swelling.
Wear Compression Stockings
These snug socks gently squeeze your legs, helping blood flow upward and easing symptoms of venous insufficiency.
Watch Your Weight
Extra weight can push on veins and slow blood flow. Eating well and staying active will lighten that load.
Talk About HRT Carefully
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help you feel better, but some forms (especially oral ones) may increase blood clot risks. Skin or vaginal forms of estrogen tend to have fewer risks. Discuss options with your GYN or primary care doctor.
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your vein specialist may begin with a diagnostic ultrasound exam. This non-invasive imaging tool is used to assess how blood moves in your veins and detect any damage or reflux. If reflux (i.e., vein disease) is present, outpatient vein treatment options may be recommended, such as:
From staying active to wearing compression, seeking vein care, and making thoughtful hormone decisions, you have control. Your legs support you every day. Now you have the information to help them in return.
From minimally invasive treatments to compassionate, expert vein care, CVR helps you feel better about how your legs look and feel. Click below to schedule your visit and rediscover the freedom to wear what you love, pain-free.
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