What causes brain clots in pregnant women – after Gal Gadot reveals she needed surgery for deadly blood clot

Gal Gadot has revealed she suffered a blood clot in her brain just before giving birth.

The actress, 39, wrote on Instagram that while she was eight months pregnant with her fourth child in February, she ‘endured excruciating headaches’ that left her bedbound. 

After weeks of pain, an MRI scan revealed Gadot had a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a rare blood clot that forms in the brain’s outermost veins. 

The condition is a form of stroke, blocking blood flow to the brain and depriving it of oxygen. 

Gadot was rushed to emergency surgery to remove the clot, giving birth to her fourth daughter, Ori, just hours later. 

CVST accounts for one in 100 strokes and is one of the most common clots found in pregnant women, who are at a heightened risk of blood clots because their blood becomes thicker and they are more prone to high blood pressure. 

Experts estimate it strikes anywhere from one in 2,500 to one in 10,000 American women every year. 

Gadot urged her 108million followers to not ignore signs of a blood clot and said she hopes to raise awareness about CVST.

She wrote: ‘It’s so important to identify early because it’s treatable. While rare, it’s a possibility, and knowing it exists is the first step to addressing it.   

‘Sharing this is not meant to frighten anyone but to empower. If even one person feels compelled to take action for their health because of this story, it will have been worth sharing.’

CVST occurs when a blood clot forms in the venous sinuses, a network of veins located in the dura mater, the brain’s outermost layer. 

The venous sinuses normally help drain blood from the brain into the internal jugular vein, sending blood back to the heart. 

Like Gadot, most patients suffer an excruciating headache that gets worse over time. 

In severe cases, seizures and altered mental status can occur. 

Pregnancy is one of the most common causes of CVST, which could be due to changes in blood consistency and veins.

The CDC estimates pregnant women are five times more likely to develop a blood clot than other groups.  

Pregnancy is known produce hormones that make blood more prone to clotting. This prevents blood loss and hemorrhaging during childbirth. 

Pregnant women also have increased blood volume, making it more likely to clot. 

Preeclampsia could also be a risk factor. This is a life-threatening condition in which a pregnant woman’s blood pressure becomes dangerously high. Preeclampsia, which is estimated to affect one in 25 women, causes an excess of proteins that control clotting, increasing the risk of blood clots.  

While some patients with CVST can be treated with anti-clotting medications, others – like in Gadot’s case – need a surgery called a thrombectomy to remove the clot. 

This involves cutting open blocked blood vessels to take out the clot and possibly placing a stent to keep the vessel open.   

If this occurs in a pregnant woman, the fetus usually only has to be delivered immediately if it is viable (around 36 to 40 weeks) or if it is in distress. It’s unclear if Gadot’s baby had any complications. 

After treatment, patients may experience headaches, vision problems, speech issues, and, in rare cases, brain damage, due to further blood flow issues in the brain. 

Gadot said she is now fully healed from the ordeal ‘and filled with gratitude for the life I’ve been given back.’ 

She said: ‘The journey has taught me so much. First, it’s vital to listen to our bodies and trust what it’s telling us.

‘Pain, discomfort, or even subtle changes often carry deeper meaning, and being attuned to your body can be life saving.’