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Bartholin glands are located on either side of the vaginal opening and contains fluid which is used to release to lubricate the vagina. These glands’ entrances can occasionally get blocked, which leads to a buildup and accumulate of fluid inside the gland known as a Bartholin’s cyst which is a relatively painless enlargement. If the cyst’s fluid becomes infected, a pus-filled bump encircled by swollen tissue (abscess) may develop.
The lips of your vagina (labia) will have spherical pimples under the skin that are actually Bartholin’s cysts. They frequently do not hurt. If an infection develops, some may become red, painful, and swollen. Other Bartholin’s cysts may appear to be fluid- or pus-filled. Bartholin’s cysts can range in size from the size of a pea to that of a golf ball. Your labia may appear asymmetrical or with one side being enlarged due to the cyst. An abscess or cyst from Bartholin’s gland is typical. The course of treatment for a Bartholin’s cyst is determined by the cyst’s size, level of pain, and infection status.
About 2% of all women will develop Bartholin’s cysts at some point in their lives. Women who are fertile are more likely to have them. After menopause, there is a decreased risk of Bartholin’s cyst development.
There are situations when home treatment is sufficient. In some situations, the Bartholin’s cyst needs to be surgically drained. Antibiotics may be useful in treating the infected Bartholin’s cyst if an infection develops.
Symptoms
You might not be aware of a small, uninfected Bartholin’s cyst, but you will feel a lump or mass close to your vaginal opening if the cyst expands. Cysts are mostly harmless, however they can occasionally be uncomfortable.
A Bartholin’s cyst infection can become fully developed in just a few days. Following an infection of the cyst, you could experience:
- Fever or chills
- A painful, sensitive bump close to the vaginal opening
- Redness
- Cyst drainage
- Cyst increases in size
- Discomfort while walking or sitting
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Discomfort and soreness after using the restroom, especially while inserting a tampon or wiping.
Typically, a Bartholin’s cyst or abscess only affects one side of the vaginal opening. If a sore lump near the opening of your vagina does not go away after two or three days of self-care, such as soaking the region in warm water, call your doctor. Make an appointment with gynecologist if the pain is severe or if you are older than 40 and discover a new lump close to your vaginal opening. Even though they are uncommon, such lumps could indicate a more serious issue such as cancer.
Causes
A fluid backup is thought by experts to be the root cause of a Bartholin’s cyst which occurs when the gland’s (duct’s) opening becomes blocked, either by an infection or an accident. An abscess may develop from an infected Bartholin’s cyst such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and bacteria that cause gonorrhea and chlamydia, which are sexually transmitted infections.
Diagnosis
A Bartholin’s cyst may be identified by your doctor by:
- Taking your medical history
- Carrying out a pelvic exam
- Gathering a sample of your vaginal or cervix secretions to be tested for a sexually transmitted infection.
- If you are postmenopausal or older than 40, a test of the mass (biopsy) to look for cancerous cells is advised.
Your doctor might recommend a gynecologist who focuses in cancers of the female reproductive system if cancer is a concern for you.
Treatment
A Bartholin’s cyst frequently does not need to be treated if it is asymptomatic. If treatment is required, it will depend on the size of the cyst, how uncomfortable it is for you, and whether the cyst is infected, which could lead to an abscess.
Your doctor might suggest the following therapies:
- Sitz baths. A small, infected cyst may burst and drain on its own after a few days of many times-daily sitz baths in a tub filled with a few inches of warm water.
- Surgical drainage. A big or diseased cyst may require surgery by a doctor to drain, which will be done under sedation or local anesthetic by making a tiny incision in the cyst, letting it drain, and inserting a tiny rubber tube (catheter) into the incision. To keep the incision open and allow for full drainage, the catheter is left in place for up to six weeks.
- Antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic if your cyst is infected or if testing reveals that you have a sexually transmitted infection. But if the abscess is drained properly, you may not need antibiotics.
- Marsupialization. A marsupialization operation may be helpful if cysts reoccur or disturb you. A permanent aperture less than 1/4-inch (approximately 6-millimeters) long is made by your doctor stitching on either side of a drainage incision. For a few days following the treatment, a catheter may be implanted to encourage drainage and avoid recurrence.
Rarely, your doctor may advise surgery to remove the Bartholin’s gland if the chronic cysts are unresponsive to other treatments, which is done in a hospital under general anesthesia as surgery carries a higher risk of bleeding or post-operative problems.
