Submucosal vesical varicosities causing hematuria and retention of urine in pregnancy: cystovarix.

Pregnancy may be associated with urological complications but gross hematuria is rare. Mechanical obstruction of venous return with pregnancy-associated smooth muscle dilatation and vasodilatation causes venous congestion, predisposing to varicose veins. We present a case of bladder submucosal venous hemorrhage secondary to such varices and describe mechanisms underlying cystovarix formation.