Pain During or After Sex (Dyspareunia): Common Causes, Including Pelvic Veins
Dyspareunia means pain during or after sex. Entry pain vs deep pain, the many possible causes, the lingering ache of pelvic congestion, and when to get help.
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Pregnancy, Sex and Women's Health
How pelvic vein problems relate to pregnancy, vulval varicose veins in pregnancy, fertility, periods, menopause and pain during or after sex.
Articles in Pregnancy, Sex and Women's Health
Vulval Varicose Veins in Pregnancy: Why They Happen and How to Cope
Why varicose veins appear on the vulva in pregnancy, how to ease the discomfort, what they mean for birth, warning signs, and what to do if they don't go away.
Why pregnancy matters
Pregnancy is the biggest risk factor for pelvic vein problems. Blood volume rises by up to half, hormones relax vein walls, and the growing womb presses on pelvic veins. The ovarian veins can stretch a great deal during pregnancy and do not always return to normal afterwards. This is why pelvic congestion is most common in women who have had children, and why vulval varicose veins often first appear in pregnancy.
Topics in this section
This section covers vulval varicose veins in pregnancy, pain during or after sex, fertility and pregnancy after embolisation, and how symptoms change with periods and menopause. Many women find these subjects hard to raise with a doctor. They are common, and they are worth raising.
Explore the other sections
Understanding Pelvic Vein Conditions
What pelvic congestion is, its symptoms, causes and related conditions.
Diagnosis and Tests
How doctors confirm pelvic vein problems and rule out other causes.
Treatment Options
Embolisation, stenting, medicines and other options, explained.
Recovery and Living Well
What to expect after treatment, and day-to-day self-care.
Men's Pelvic Vein Health
Varicocele, its symptoms, treatment and effect on fertility.
Questions and Costs
Is it serious? Who treats it? What does it cost?