A new study published in RPTH and led by World Thrombosis Day Vice Chair Marcello DiNisio, M.D., on behalf of the WTD Steering Committee, exposes a striking global education gap around venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The survey of more than 3,000 women across 38 countries found that 70.9% received either no VTE education or education only after a clot diagnosis, and just 10.9% had been instructed on what symptoms to watch for. Nearly one-third of respondents could not identify a single VTE risk factor, and knowledge of pulmonary embolism symptoms was particularly low.

The findings also highlight gaps in the quality of counseling women do receive. Nearly 17% of those who were educated still had many unanswered questions, 9.2% reported confusion and poor understanding, and nearly 20% experienced anxiety or psychological distress related to VTE discussions. Critically, many women were never instructed to seek urgent medical care even after being told about VTE symptoms.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period increase VTE risk approximately 5 to 10 times, making VTE one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The study points to obstetricians and gynecologists as a key opportunity for integrating thrombosis counseling into routine prenatal care, and notes lower awareness rates among younger participants and Asian respondents.

Improving maternal thrombosis outcomes requires more than advances in treatment. It demands education, awareness and timely recognition at every stage of care.

Read the full article in RPTH here: https://www.rpthjournal.org/article/S2475-0379(26)00079-8/fulltext