Vulvar Veins
Overview Vulvar Veins
Vulvar veins commonly arise during pregnancy and may cause pain, heaviness, clotting or bleeding. They can be identified on ultrasound and treated with sclerotherapy, performed following the application of numbing creams, gels and anaesthesia, with the option of using Entonox (laughing gas) for additional comfort. As these veins can sometimes connect with leg veins, it is important to inform your doctor so they can be treated together if needed.
Incompetent ovarian veins can lead to pelvic congestion syndrome, presenting with heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, frequent urination and painful intercourse. Treatment involves venography and embolisation using coils and sclerosants.
Tests and Investigations
Sclerotherapy
Vulvar veins are treated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. An anaesthetic cream is applied one hour before the procedure, after which the abnormal veins are identified on ultrasound and injected with a sclerosing agent. Compression garments are worn for two weeks following treatment. The procedure is generally very successful, with vulvar veins typically disappearing within a few weeks.