I'm a 38-year-old smoker who has thrombophelbitis and a mirena IUD. Am I at greater risk for DVT after sclerotherapy or varicose vein surgery?

I have thrombophelbitis in my left thigh at the moment. It is very painful; I've had unsightly veins in this area for years. I'm just within my BMI, but apprehensive of surgery due to smoking 15 -20 cigarettes per day. Also, I have had the mirena IUD for four years. Does this put me at greater risk for DVT? Can I fly safely?

Answers from doctors (7)


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Dec 26, 2017

You have increased risk of deep vein blood clots with your history of smoking, hormones and clotting of a superficial vein. If you are flying i would advise compression hose, hydrating, walking/exercising the lower legs and taking aspirin 81 mg per day. I strongly advise you consider stopping smoking. An evaluation by a board certified vascular trained surgeon who specializes in varicose vein treatments would be beneficial. This will include ultrasound. If there is underlying reflux this can be treated in an office setting with minimal downtime/local anesthetic.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

You have increased risk of deep vein blood clots with your history of smoking, hormones and clotting of a superficial vein. If you are flying i would advise compression hose, hydrating, walking/exercising the lower legs and taking aspirin 81 mg per day. I strongly advise you consider stopping smoking. An evaluation by a board certified vascular trained surgeon who specializes in varicose vein treatments would be beneficial. This will include ultrasound. If there is underlying reflux this can be treated in an office setting with minimal downtime/local anesthetic.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Jun 02, 2014

Surgery will not put you at any more risk than you already are, especially with smoking. How long have you had the inflammation from the clot in that left leg? Have you been on blood thinners? If you are, then the physician will probably keep you on them in order to reduce risk of further clot. If you are not taking blood thinners already, then the physician will probably have you take a baby aspirin for a while after the procedure. After varicose vein surgery, you will wear a compression stocking for a week as well, and you should be good to fly.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

Surgery will not put you at any more risk than you already are, especially with smoking. How long have you had the inflammation from the clot in that left leg? Have you been on blood thinners? If you are, then the physician will probably keep you on them in order to reduce risk of further clot. If you are not taking blood thinners already, then the physician will probably have you take a baby aspirin for a while after the procedure. After varicose vein surgery, you will wear a compression stocking for a week as well, and you should be good to fly.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Lone Star Vein Center

Published on Jun 02, 2014

Yes, in general, you are at increased risk for a DVT given your history.
Your provider should help you weigh the risks and benefit of possible procedures and expectations thereafter, regarding your specific complaints. You can generally fly safely approximately 2 weeks following your procedures. It's recommended you take precautions explained by your provider and assuming there are no post-procedural complications.

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Answered by Lone Star Vein Center

Yes, in general, you are at increased risk for a DVT given your history.
Your provider should help you weigh the risks and benefit of possible procedures and expectations thereafter, regarding your specific complaints. You can generally fly safely approximately 2 weeks following your procedures. It's recommended you take precautions explained by your provider and assuming there are no post-procedural complications.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Finesse Surgical Solutions

Published on May 30, 2014

Being female, a smoker and having a history of thrombophlebitis are each risk factors for DVT. I am not aware of any DVT risk from IUD's. Taking birth control pills or other female hormones is a risk factor. Treating the abnormal vein poses little risk for DVT. Flying or any prolonged sitting or immobility is a risk but can be fairly safe if you hydrate well and keep active during the flight. Get out of your seat each hour, pump your legs when sitting.

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Answered by Finesse Surgical Solutions

Being female, a smoker and having a history of thrombophlebitis are each risk factors for DVT. I am not aware of any DVT risk from IUD's. Taking birth control pills or other female hormones is a risk factor. Treating the abnormal vein poses little risk for DVT. Flying or any prolonged sitting or immobility is a risk but can be fairly safe if you hydrate well and keep active during the flight. Get out of your seat each hour, pump your legs when sitting.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on May 28, 2014

Thrombophlebitis does put you at a slightly greater risk of developing a DVT due to the fact that a thrombophlebitis is a clot in an inflamed vessel. In this case probably a superficial vein. Any active clot in the body tends to promote more clot formation. Fortunately if you do not have a known clotting disorder, the active clot normally does not cause a major problem other than pain and discomfort. The problem that you have that really increases your DVT risk is just the fact that you have varicose vein disease. The result of which is a relative higher incidence of venous congestion which in turn promotes clot formation within the affected vessel. This is probably why you are currently suffering from the thrombophlebitis. The smoking also does not help in this situation. Given the fact that you do smoke is probably also why you use an IUD instead of an oral contraceptive. Smoking and oral hormones do not mix well and are well known to promote DVT issues in their users. As for the IUD, most do not have any real impact on DVT risk since they normally do not contain any estrogen or progesterone unlike their oral contraceptive counterparts. These hormones can and will cause an increased incidence of DVT in some users. IUD's on the other hand, tend to put its users more at risk for intrauterine infections than DVT's since it is a foreign object in the uterus. In regards to flying, you can fly. However, long flights will put you at a relatively higher risk of DVT formation compared to what your risk is currently due to the fact that you would more than likely be sitting in a plane for a significant period of time. This lack of movement only compounds your vein issues and thus increases the potential risk for DVT formation. If you are worried about your DVT risk, you really need to have your vein issues addressed. Doing so will decrease the amount of stasis you have in your veins and thus decreases your blood clot risk.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

Thrombophlebitis does put you at a slightly greater risk of developing a DVT due to the fact that a thrombophlebitis is a clot in an inflamed vessel. In this case probably a superficial vein. Any active clot in the body tends to promote more clot formation. Fortunately if you do not have a known clotting disorder, the active clot normally does not cause a major problem other than pain and discomfort. The problem that you have that really increases your DVT risk is just the fact that you have varicose vein disease. The result of which is a relative higher incidence of venous congestion which in turn promotes clot formation within the affected vessel. This is probably why you are currently suffering from the thrombophlebitis. The smoking also does not help in this situation. Given the fact that you do smoke is probably also why you use an IUD instead of an oral contraceptive. Smoking and oral hormones do not mix well and are well known to promote DVT issues in their users. As for the IUD, most do not have any real impact on DVT risk since they normally do not contain any estrogen or progesterone unlike their oral contraceptive counterparts. These hormones can and will cause an increased incidence of DVT in some users. IUD's on the other hand, tend to put its users more at risk for intrauterine infections than DVT's since it is a foreign object in the uterus. In regards to flying, you can fly. However, long flights will put you at a relatively higher risk of DVT formation compared to what your risk is currently due to the fact that you would more than likely be sitting in a plane for a significant period of time. This lack of movement only compounds your vein issues and thus increases the potential risk for DVT formation. If you are worried about your DVT risk, you really need to have your vein issues addressed. Doing so will decrease the amount of stasis you have in your veins and thus decreases your blood clot risk.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on May 28, 2014

Being a smoker would, in general, puts you at higher risk of developing DVT. Having an IUD would not change your DVT risk status. At my practice I do not anti coagulate any patient having laser vein treatments or sclerotherapy because they are a smoker. I recommend having a venous duplex ultrasound to evaluate the status of your venous system and it would be wise to see a vein specialist to see if there is an underlying reason for the phlebitis. Also, you can fly safely but you should take some precautions such as wearing knee length support hose during the flight, stay hydrated, move around during the flight and take an aspirin the night before the flight.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Being a smoker would, in general, puts you at higher risk of developing DVT. Having an IUD would not change your DVT risk status. At my practice I do not anti coagulate any patient having laser vein treatments or sclerotherapy because they are a smoker. I recommend having a venous duplex ultrasound to evaluate the status of your venous system and it would be wise to see a vein specialist to see if there is an underlying reason for the phlebitis. Also, you can fly safely but you should take some precautions such as wearing knee length support hose during the flight, stay hydrated, move around during the flight and take an aspirin the night before the flight.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Published on May 27, 2014

Your risk of DVT is slightly higher, but not much.

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Answered by Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Your risk of DVT is slightly higher, but not much.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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