Bartholin’s glands are situated on either side of the vaginal opening in women. The function of these glands is to secrete a fluid that keeps the vagina lubricated. This fluid also helps to protect the vaginal tissue. When the opening of the Bartholin’s glands gets obstructed, the fluid backs up in the gland. This results in a swelling of the gland, which is called the Bartholin’s Cyst. These cysts are not very common in women. The size of the cyst varies from that of a pea to that of a marble. They develop in the women of reproductive age after puberty and before menopause.
Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms of a Bartholin’s cyst if it is small or it is uninfected. If the cyst becomes infected the most common signs and symptoms are:
- Swelling near the opening of the vagina which is tender and painful
- Pain during intercourse
- Discomfort when sitting or walking
- Fever
Causes
The Bartholin’s glands contain ducts that allow the fluid to flow into the vagina. The main cause of the development of the cyst is when these ducts get blocked and the fluid gets backed up into the glands. There is no specific cause for the ducts to get blocked. It could get blocked due to some infection or injury. The cyst can get infected causing an abscess. The bacteria that cause the infection include escherichia coli and also those bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Treatment
In most cases when Bartholin’s cyst is small and not infected, it does not require any treatment. In other cases, treatment would depend on the size of the cyst, level of discomfort, and whether it is infected or not. Some of the common treatment options include:
- Sitz bath
- Surgical drainage
- Antibiotics
- Marsupialization
Bartholin’s cysts are rare and when they do occur, they are commonly treatable with ease. Some cysts are so small that they have no symptoms at all and can be treated at home. When the infections recur, it is quite important to go for a more intensive treatment.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
Sources-
- https://www.healthline.com/health/bartholins-gland-cyst#outlook
- https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/bartholins-gland-cyst#2
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bartholin-cyst/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369981
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