What is a Bartholin’s gland cyst?
— A Bartholin’s gland cyst is a small sac of fluid that forms when the opening of a Bartholin’s gland is blocked. All women and girls have 2 Bartholin’s glands just below the opening of the vagina.
The Bartholin’s glands make small amounts of fluid. The fluid helps keep the vulva moist. (The vulva is the area around the opening of the vagina that includes the labia.) If something blocks the opening of a Bartholin’s gland, fluid can build up and form a cyst. This usually happens in just one gland, not both at once.
A small, noninfected Bartholin’s cyst may not be noticeable unless it grows. If the cyst becomes infected, symptoms may include pain and discomfort.
A Bartholin’s cyst is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In rare cases, a Bartholin’s cyst may be caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, the cyst itself is not sexually transmitted.
What are the symptoms of a Bartholin’s gland cyst?
— Most women notice a lump in the vulva, but Bartholin’s gland cysts often do not cause any other symptoms. If they do, the main symptoms are pain or discomfort when a woman walks, sits, or has sex.
If a Bartholin’s gland cyst gets infected, it can form an abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that can cause a lump to form on the vulva. Symptoms of an abscess include:
¡Severe pain – A woman might not be able to walk, sit, or have sex.
¡Swelling
¡Redness
People may experience:
Pain areas: in the pelvis
Pain circumstances: can occur during sexual intercourse
Also common: cyst, lump near vaginal opening, or swelling
Should I see a doctor or nurse?
— See your doctor or nurse if:
¡You see or feel a lump in the vulva.
¡It is painful to walk, sit, or have sex.
Will I need tests?
— Maybe. If you have an abscess, the doctor or nurse will send a small sample of the pus to a lab for testing. This can show what type of germ caused the infection. You might need antibiotics for an infection caused by certain germs.
If you are older than 40, the doctor or nurse will do a test called a “biopsy” to check for cancer. (Cancer in a Bartholin gland is rare, but it can happen.) In this test, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the area. Then he or she sends the tissue to a lab. Another doctor looks at it under a microscope to check for cancer.
How is a Bartholin’s gland cyst treated?
Often, treatment isn’t needed. When needed, options include warm baths, surgical drainage, and anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).
— Treatment depends on your age and whether the cyst is causing symptoms. If you do not have symptoms, you might not need any treatment. Otherwise, treatments can include:
¡Antibiotics – Doctors give these medicines if an abscess is caused by certain types of infection.
¡Draining the cyst or abscess – In this procedure, the doctor cuts a small hole to let fluid or pus out. Then he or she puts a tiny balloon in the hole to keep it from closing completely. The balloon is connected to a tiny tube called a “catheter” that helps fluid drain from the Bartholin’s gland. The doctor takes the balloon out in about 1 month. It leaves a small opening where fluid can drain. This procedure is often done in a doctor’s office. But if you have a large or deep abscess, you might need treatment in the hospital.
¡Surgery – Doctors can do this if draining fluid and putting in a balloon does not work well. A doctor can make a new opening to help the Bartholin’s gland drain fluid. Or he or she can remove the gland and any cyst or abscess. But surgery has a higher risk of side effects than other treatments, so doctors don’t do it as often.
Whatis the prognosis of Bartholin’sgland cyst?
There’s no way to prevent a Bartholin’s cyst. However, washing the vagina only with warm water, limiting tight-fitting underwear and clothing, avoiding vaginal perfumes or powders, and safer sex practices may help keep a cyst from becoming infected and an abscess from forming.
MKO Abimbola holds a doctoral degree in physician associate studies from the United States of America. He is a Harvard Medical School scholar, who specializes in Internal medicine, Acute care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgical services
