Can endovenous laser ablation treat a vulvar varicose vein?

I have been to 2 vascular surgeons, but they only seem interested in taking care of the varicose vein in my leg that is causing pain to my ankle. My vulvar varicose vein is increasingly painful and swollen. What treatment choices are there? Can it be treated with endovenous laser ablation?

Answers from doctors (17)


Jefferson Health Vein Treatment Practice

Published on Jul 17, 2020

It is important to discuss this with a specialist that focuses on pelvic venous disease or pelvic congestion syndrome. Vulvar varicose veins can develop as an escape of varicose veins inside the pelvis and can also lead to leg varicose veins. It is possible to eliminate vulvar varicose veins with sclerotherapy, but it is important to evaluate how they connect to the rest of your venous system. Endovenous laser is used to treat the leg veins and may be appropriate as well since it sounds like you also have varicose veins in your legs.

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Answered by Jefferson Health Vein Treatment Practice

It is important to discuss this with a specialist that focuses on pelvic venous disease or pelvic congestion syndrome. Vulvar varicose veins can develop as an escape of varicose veins inside the pelvis and can also lead to leg varicose veins. It is possible to eliminate vulvar varicose veins with sclerotherapy, but it is important to evaluate how they connect to the rest of your venous system. Endovenous laser is used to treat the leg veins and may be appropriate as well since it sounds like you also have varicose veins in your legs.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein 911

Published on Feb 20, 2013

Groin, vulvar and labial varicose veins are easily treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. However, many vein care practitioners are not comfortable performing ultrasound-guided procedures because it takes special expertise. Find an interventional radiologist in your area who treats varicose veins.

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Answered by Vein 911

Groin, vulvar and labial varicose veins are easily treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. However, many vein care practitioners are not comfortable performing ultrasound-guided procedures because it takes special expertise. Find an interventional radiologist in your area who treats varicose veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Feb 05, 2013

Search for a phlebologist with some experience in treating vulvar veins. Laser is not an option. Foam sclerotherapy is my choice of treatment.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

Search for a phlebologist with some experience in treating vulvar veins. Laser is not an option. Foam sclerotherapy is my choice of treatment.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Feb 01, 2013

Usually sclerotherapy is used to treat those kinds of varicose veins. Find an interventional radiologist to do the procedures; they are specialists that do procedures with imaging.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

Usually sclerotherapy is used to treat those kinds of varicose veins. Find an interventional radiologist to do the procedures; they are specialists that do procedures with imaging.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialists

Published on Jan 31, 2013

Vulvar varicose veins usually originate in the pelvis and are rarely fed from insufficiency from below. They can be treated by either injection sclerotherapy or removing the vein through an incision. Some phlebologists suggest treating the pelvic venous insufficiency from above with embolization techniques. You need to reflect and ask yourself which veins bother you most day to day, the leg or the vulvar, and treat whichever one is the
answer. Certainly you should have a complete venous insufficiency study to investigate the source of the insufficiency and the severity.

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Answered by Vein Specialists

Vulvar varicose veins usually originate in the pelvis and are rarely fed from insufficiency from below. They can be treated by either injection sclerotherapy or removing the vein through an incision. Some phlebologists suggest treating the pelvic venous insufficiency from above with embolization techniques. You need to reflect and ask yourself which veins bother you most day to day, the leg or the vulvar, and treat whichever one is the
answer. Certainly you should have a complete venous insufficiency study to investigate the source of the insufficiency and the severity.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Clinic of North Carolina

Published on Jan 29, 2013

We do not do perform with lasers in our office. We use radiofrequency for heat source in treating veins. Laser is not a controlled heat source for treating veins. You need to have an ultrasound to determine where the vein problem starts. Treatment is different pending the ultrasound results. Your vein problem may start at the junction where all the veins come together and if that is the result of findings by ultrasound, your treatment will be different than what some clinicians may call "cosmetic," or they are not contracted with your insurance.

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Answered by Vein Clinic of North Carolina

We do not do perform with lasers in our office. We use radiofrequency for heat source in treating veins. Laser is not a controlled heat source for treating veins. You need to have an ultrasound to determine where the vein problem starts. Treatment is different pending the ultrasound results. Your vein problem may start at the junction where all the veins come together and if that is the result of findings by ultrasound, your treatment will be different than what some clinicians may call "cosmetic," or they are not contracted with your insurance.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Jan 29, 2013

Most vulvar veins arise from a pelvic vein source in the lower abdomen, not the femoral vein. Therefore, endovenous laser ablation usually is not helpful. Ovarian veins in the lower abdomen often need to be treated with coil embolization. This can be done in a specialized center that has experience in these procedures.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

Most vulvar veins arise from a pelvic vein source in the lower abdomen, not the femoral vein. Therefore, endovenous laser ablation usually is not helpful. Ovarian veins in the lower abdomen often need to be treated with coil embolization. This can be done in a specialized center that has experience in these procedures.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Pacific Vein Centers

Published on Jan 29, 2013

Laser treatment would probably not be appropriate for vulvar varicose veins. Sclerotherapy may be the better option. Obviously you would have to be examined before any treatment could be proposed.

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Answered by Pacific Vein Centers

Laser treatment would probably not be appropriate for vulvar varicose veins. Sclerotherapy may be the better option. Obviously you would have to be examined before any treatment could be proposed.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Lubbock Vein Specialists

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Generally, vulvar veins have a source in the pelvis. This possibility needs to be investigated. If pelvic veins are the source, they should be treated. The vulvar vein itself is best treated directly by sclerotherapy.

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Answered by Lubbock Vein Specialists

Generally, vulvar veins have a source in the pelvis. This possibility needs to be investigated. If pelvic veins are the source, they should be treated. The vulvar vein itself is best treated directly by sclerotherapy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Foam sclerotherapy is one way to treat vulvar varicose veins.

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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Foam sclerotherapy is one way to treat vulvar varicose veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Jan 28, 2013

You cannot treat vulvar varices with endovenous laser ablation. These are varicose veins of the groin and genital area that are often made worse during pregnancy or menstruation. However, they can be addressed with sclerosing injections provided you are not pregnant or nursing. If you have saphenous incompetence of the long saphenous vein, we would recommend having this treated first. But if you are having pain from the vulvar varices, they can be treated first to alleviate symptoms.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

You cannot treat vulvar varices with endovenous laser ablation. These are varicose veins of the groin and genital area that are often made worse during pregnancy or menstruation. However, they can be addressed with sclerosing injections provided you are not pregnant or nursing. If you have saphenous incompetence of the long saphenous vein, we would recommend having this treated first. But if you are having pain from the vulvar varices, they can be treated first to alleviate symptoms.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein & Laser Centre, Ltd.

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Vulvar varicose veins are frequently treated with embolization and then the leg veins are treated, with endovenous laser ablation being a choice.


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Answered by Advanced Vein & Laser Centre, Ltd.

Vulvar varicose veins are frequently treated with embolization and then the leg veins are treated, with endovenous laser ablation being a choice.


Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Laser Vein Center

Published on Jan 28, 2013

The vulvar varicosities are not really treated by endovenous laser ablation. Sometimes vulvar varicosities are caused or associated with pelvic venous insufficiency, so it's good to make sure that is not the issue. If it is not an issue, the vulvar varicosities can be nicely treated with sclerotherapy. Good luck.




Answered by Laser Vein Center (View Profile)

The vulvar varicosities are not really treated by endovenous laser ablation. Sometimes vulvar varicosities are caused or associated with pelvic venous insufficiency, so it's good to make sure that is not the issue. If it is not an issue, the vulvar varicosities can be nicely treated with sclerotherapy. Good luck.




Published on Jul 11, 2012


Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Not sure. The affected area would need to be examined and an ultrasound would need to be performed.

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Answered by Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Not sure. The affected area would need to be examined and an ultrasound would need to be performed.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Vulvar varicose veins can be treated with foam sclerotherapy. Some patients might need more than one treatment, but the procedure is usually very successful. No, surgery is definitely not the first choice.

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

Vulvar varicose veins can be treated with foam sclerotherapy. Some patients might need more than one treatment, but the procedure is usually very successful. No, surgery is definitely not the first choice.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Vulvar varicosities have been successfully treated with sclerotherapy. There usually is no need for endovenous laser ablation. Microphlebectomies, on the other hand, could be done but would be painful.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Vulvar varicosities have been successfully treated with sclerotherapy. There usually is no need for endovenous laser ablation. Microphlebectomies, on the other hand, could be done but would be painful.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Arizona Vein Specialists

Published on Jan 28, 2013

The vulvar varicose vein is caused by venous insufficiency arising in the pelvic area. Since vascular surgeons consider themselves to be the penultimate authority on venous disease, they should have advised you that sclerotherapy works very well for the majority of vulvar varicosities. Rarely, if unsuccessful, pelvic ultrasound or contrast studies may be needed to identify the offending vein(s) for embolization treatment. Endovenous laser ablation can only be used on relatively straight veins because the fiber cannot bend too far, and insurance will only pay for the saphenous veins.

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Answered by Arizona Vein Specialists

The vulvar varicose vein is caused by venous insufficiency arising in the pelvic area. Since vascular surgeons consider themselves to be the penultimate authority on venous disease, they should have advised you that sclerotherapy works very well for the majority of vulvar varicosities. Rarely, if unsuccessful, pelvic ultrasound or contrast studies may be needed to identify the offending vein(s) for embolization treatment. Endovenous laser ablation can only be used on relatively straight veins because the fiber cannot bend too far, and insurance will only pay for the saphenous veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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