Bartholin's cyst: causes, symptoms, and treatment

Do you feel a small lump on your labia? You may have a Bartholin's cyst. Find out what it is and how it can be treated.

Bartholin’s glands are located on either side of the vaginal opening, and they secrete fluids to lubricate the vagina. Sometimes the opening of these glands becomes blocked, causing fluid to accumulate inside the glands. This causes the glands to swell and form a condition called a Bartholin’s cyst.

This swelling is not painful, but if the cyst becomes infected, it may develop pus and an abscess.

Bartholin’s cyst and abscess are common in women. For a clearer understanding, pictures of the lump on the vagina can help to better visualize the condition. Treatment depends on the size of the cyst. Sometimes it can be relieved with home treatments, but sometimes surgical drainage is necessary.

bartholins cyst

Photo of genital lump: Mayo Clinic

Symptoms of Bartholin’s cyst

Because Bartholin’s cysts are painless, women often don’t know they have them. If the cyst has grown, you may feel a small lump near your vaginal opening.

Observe the following as symptoms of an infected Bartholin’s cyst:

A lump near the vaginal opening that hurts when pressed or hit
Discomfort in the vaginal area when walking or sitting
Pain in the vaginal area during intercourse
Fever

Bartholin’s cysts usually grow in only one part of the vaginal opening. For clearer information, pictures of the vaginal lump can help you better understand the condition. See a doctor if the lump in the vaginal opening does not go away after two or three days of home treatment, if the pain is severe, and if you are over 40 years old.

Cause

Experts believe that a Bartholin’s cyst is caused by a buildup of fluid in the Bartholin’s glands. This occurs when the duct or opening of the gland becomes blocked, infected, or injured.

When a Bartholin’s cyst becomes infected, it will develop an abscess. Various bacteria can cause the infection, such as E.coli, and bacteria that cause sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Complication

Bartholin’s cyst can recur and come back.

How to avoid

There is no guarantee that a Bartholin’s cyst can be completely prevented. However, practicing safe sex (especially using condoms), and being clean can help prevent infection and abscess formation.

Remedy

Bartholin’s cysts usually go away on their own, unless they become infected. The type of treatment depends on the size of the cyst, the pain it causes, and whether it has an abscess.

Possible remedies include the following:

Sitz baths. Fill a bathtub with warm water (sitz bath) several times a day for three to four days, and this may help the cyst burst and drain spontaneously.
Surgical drainage. This is necessary if the cyst is large or infected. You may be given anesthesia to drain the cyst.
Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the cyst is infected or if test results show that you have a sexually transmitted infection. However, if the cyst is drained properly, you may not need them.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Philippines