Risk of deep vein thrombosis, DVT, is 6 times higher during pregnancy. Pregnancy brings more than morning sickness and fatigue — it also brings a risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a preventable condition in which blood clots form in the veins. In fact, pregnancy and DVT risk go hand-in-hand.

There are two types of abnormal blood clot formation in the veins: a blood clot that forms in a vein usually in the leg or pelvis is known as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT; or when the clot breaks off and travels from the leg up to the lungs, it is known as and a pulmonary embolism or PE, which is a medical emergency that can be life threatening if not treated immediately. Together, DVT and PE are known as a condition called venous thromboembolism or VTE, which is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death worldwide. VTE – deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) combined – occurs at an annual incidence of about 1 per 1000 adults. Rates increase sharply after age 45 years, and are slightly higher in men than women in older age

Thrombosis / DVT Treatment

Treating DVT is important because of the risk of a life-threatening complication known as pulmonary embolism. This occurs when the blood clot breaks off and travels through the blood and blocks an artery in the lung. Click here for more information about DVT and PE.