Ahem, hideous question, but... does anyone know what varicose veins in your lady bits look like? (Warning TMI thread)

[neolara]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and have been feeling very uncomfortable down below - mixture of everything feeling very swollen and feeling as if my uterus is going to fall out between my legs. Have just had a little look and as well as lots of swelling have seen a small, hardish, white pea like lump. Does this sound like a varicose vein? And do you think I should get it checked out? (But bear in mind if anyone tells me I should see a GP I WILL cry. I've had enough medics fiddling around with my bits to last me a life-time.)

Bump

Hello, thought i'd try and help you, i'm 24 weeks and currently have the misery of what seems to be vaginal varicose veins, i can't bear to look but apparently they are dark veins and a generally swollen area - see the link to a hilarious site that might or might not make you feel better

www.franklypregnant.com/askarchives69.html#VaginalSwelling

But also i have had a thing called a bartolin's cyst (google it) before, both when i was pregnant and not pregnant, The first time it went huge before i realised and had to have it drained - ugh - the second time i caught it when i was about 12 weeks pregnant and it was a small pea sized hard lump that was uncomfortable not painful, in the front/inside of my ladyparts. It might be this. In which case sorry but you do need to go to the GP and get antibiotics to stop it in its tracks.

A hard white lump is not a varicose vein, sorry. You need to get it checked out. They look much like varicose veins anywhere else- exactly as unummy says - dark, prurplish swollen areas.

Thank you for replies and the link. Not sure the link did make me feel better! Definitely not varicose veins then and am not entirely convinced it is a bartholin's cyst either. Bummer. May have to see someone. Unless anyone else feels like having a go at diagnosing me over the web?