---
title: Why do some women's legs feel heavy and swollen before their period?
description: The study found that women with premenstrual leg heaviness have enlarged leg veins during the later part of their menstrual cycle. Vein swelling and backward
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/changes-in-trunk-veins-of-the-lower-limbs-in-women-with-premenstrual-leg-2019/
---

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- Why do some women's legs feel heavy and swollen before their period?

Cohort study, 2019

# Why do some women's legs feel heavy and swollen before their period?

The study found that women with premenstrual leg heaviness have enlarged leg veins during the later part of their menstrual cycle. Vein swelling and backward flow occur during this time, which explains the heaviness and swelling.

 Early or limited evidence

39 women with premenstrual leg heaviness and swelling

## What they did

Researchers examined 39 women with premenstrual leg heaviness using ultrasound to measure leg vein diameter on days 1-4 (menstrual phase) and days 25-28 (secretory phase, just before menstruation). They measured veins in the morning and evening.

## What they found

Great saphenous vein diameter increased on average 26.2% from morning during menstrual phase to evening during secretory phase. 43.6% of women had vein reflux (backward flow) during the secretory phase. In women with reflux, vein diameter increased by an average of 40.6% throughout the cycle. Largest vein diameters were in the evening during the secretory phase.

## What it means for you

Women with premenstrual leg heaviness have veins that expand more later in their cycle, some with backward flow. This swelling likely explains the heaviness. The small study identifies a physical mechanism for a common symptom. However, it lacks a control group, so we cannot confirm the vein changes are unique to women with leg heaviness.

39

women with premenstrual leg heaviness studied

26.2%

increase in vein diameter from menstrual to secretory phase

43.6%

of women had vein reflux during secretory phase

## About the study

Original title Changes in trunk veins of the lower limbs in women with premenstrual leg heaviness and swelling Authors Tsukanov YТ, Nicolaichuk A, Nicolaichuk T Journal International angiology : a journal of the International Union of Angiology Year 2019 Study design Cohort study Participants 39 What was tested None. Observational study using ultrasound to measure vein changes. Read the paper [doi.org/10.23736/s0392-9590.19.04084-7](https://doi.org/10.23736/s0392-9590.19.04084-7)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)

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