Experiences with
Bartholin's cystSymptoms of a Bartholin's cyst
You may feel a soft, painless lump. This does not usually cause any problems.
But if the cyst grows very large, it can become noticeable and uncomfortable. You may feel pain in the skin surrounding the vagina (vulva) when you walk, sit down or have sex.
The cyst can sometimes affect the outer pair of lips surrounding the vagina (labia majora). One side may look swollen or bigger than usual.
If the cyst becomes infected, it can cause a painful collection of pus (abscess) to develop in one of the Bartholin's glands.
Signs of an abscess include the affected area becoming red, swollen, tender and hot. It can also cause a high temperature.
What causes Bartholin's cysts?
The Bartholin's glands are a pair of pea-sized glands found just behind and either side of the lips that surround the entrance to the vagina.
The glands are not usually noticeable because they're rarely larger than 1cm (0.4 inches) across.
The Bartholin's glands secrete fluid that acts as a lubricant during sex. The fluid travels down tiny tubes called ducts into the vagina.
If the ducts become blocked, they can fill with fluid and expand to form a cyst.
It's often not known why the ducts become blocked, but sometimes it's linked to sexually transmitted bacterial infections (STIs), such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia, or other bacterial infections, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli).
How Bartholin's cysts are treated
If you do not have any noticeable symptoms, it's unlikely you'll need treatment.
If the cyst is painful, a GP may recommend some simple self-care measures, such as soaking the cyst in warm water several times a day for 3 or 4 days and taking painkillers you can buy from a pharmacy or supermarket.
If these do not work, several treatments are available to treat the pain and any infection. If necessary, the cyst can be drained. Most of these treatments involve a minor surgical procedure.
A Bartholin's cyst can sometimes return after treatment.
SymptomsMedical treatmentsCausesA Bartholin's cyst feels like a soft, painless lump near the opening of the vagina. Large cysts can cause pain when walking, sitting or during sex.
You do not usually need to treat a Bartholin's cyst. If it's painful, soaking it in warm water, using a warm flannel and painkillers may help.
A Bartholin's cyst can happen when the tubes that help lubricate the vagina during sex become blocked.
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