Varicose veins down under

Hi Ladies,

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with varicose veins in their lady parts? I have one that developed last night after a short but challenging ride with lots of climbing. I have a saddle I like though I am going to experiment with the positioning some tonight. I've been riding for 4 years now and I've never had this problem. All the research I'm finding deals with this problem as a part of either growing older and uterine prolapse or pregnancy, of which neither condition applies to me. I'm wondering whether I should be worried about this and stay off the bike or if I should ride on. Is it more like that it's caused by the straining climbing hills or due to positioning of my saddle? Will it go away after a certain point? Should it be painful?

Thanks for any insight you might have.

I don't have experience with it or any real knowledge, but I do have a male cycling buddy that had a varicose vein in his "taint." He said that it went away spontaneously after being there for a long time and it never really bothered him riding. I'm sure you'd have to have a saddle that fit you well though, so as not to put pressure on it.

See, it isn't just us women, cyclists of both sexes are totally non-squeamish talking about body parts with their riding buddies. :cool:

You might could ask your doctor just to be safe.

Thanks for the reply! I had planned to ride last night but a big storm came up and I took that as a sign that the universe wanted me to sit with an ice pack on my hoo ha. So I did. It was a little tender yesterday, not painful but it was like I could tell it was there. Today it's better after the icing. I think if it doesn't go away in a week or so I will call the doc. Still interested in seeing if anyone else has had the same issue.

please go to your doctor!!!!!!!!

Called the doc today but only spoke with the nurse. Her recommendation was to stay off the bike and avoid pressure to the area. But seeing as I am training for a half iron I don't have that option. So I rode tonight, only 20 miles and then ran 3 and there are no changes either good or bad. Cross your legs... I mean fingers that it doesn't get worse! I don't have time to be down.