The Bartholin’s glands are located on both sides of a woman’s vaginal lips. These glands function to secrete fluid used as lubrication during sexual intercourse. The glands are small and not easily detectable by touch or sight. Under certain conditions, Bartholin’s cysts form when there is blockage in the Bartholin’s gland duct. These cysts are small and may not cause pain, but they can also have the opposite effect.
Bartholin’s cysts form due to blockage in the duct directly leading to the vagina. This blocked duct will collect excess fluid and subsequently form a cyst. During sexual intercourse, the cyst may enlarge due to the addition of fluid produced during intimacy.
The assumption that women aged 40 are at risk of developing cysts may indeed be true, especially if they have diabetes mellitus. Other risk factors that increase the likelihood of a woman developing this condition include pregnancy and contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or Chlamydia due to unsafe sexual practices. However, other types of bacteria such as Escherichia coli or E. coli, which are often the cause of diarrhea and food poisoning, can also lead to Bartholin’s cysts.
Symptoms of Bartholin’s Cyst
If you have a small, non-infected Bartholin’s cyst, it may not cause any symptoms. However, as the cyst grows larger, you may feel a lump or mass near the vaginal opening. Although cysts usually do not cause pain, they can be uncomfortable. Symptoms that may occur include:
- Painful lump near the vaginal opening.
- Pus or abscess formation.
- Pain or discomfort when walking or sitting.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Fever or increased body temperature.
Although it can occur on both sides, abscesses or Bartholin’s cysts usually occur on one side of the vaginal opening.
Bartholin’s Cyst Treatment
In many cases, Bartholin’s cysts do not require specific treatment. If the symptoms become increasingly uncomfortable, treatment may be necessary depending on the size of the cyst and the severity of the symptoms. Some treatment steps that can be taken include:
- Warm Water Soaks. You can soak in warm water several times a day for three or four days. Infected small cysts may mature and rupture on their own, allowing the pus inside to drain naturally.
- Surgical Drainage. In cases of large cysts, surgery may be required to drain the cyst, whether infected or not. Cyst drainage can be performed under local anesthesia. The doctor will make a small incision in the cyst, and the contents of the cyst will be drained using a catheter. The catheter may be left in place for up to six weeks to allow all the pus to drain out and ensure thorough cleansing.
- Antibiotic Administration. Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics if the cyst is caused by a sexually transmitted disease. However, if the abscess or pus has dried up, antibiotic administration may not be necessary.
- Marsupialization. If the cyst recurs, marsupialization may be required. This procedure involves making sutures on each side of the drainage incision to keep it permanently open with a size of less than 6 millimeters. A catheter is then inserted to facilitate drainage for several days after the procedure and help prevent recurrence.
