ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Bartholin’s cyst

What is Bartholin’s cyst?

21:55 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

When the Bartholin’s glands, located on both sides of the vagina, become inflamed due to a blockage in the duct through which they emit lubricating fluid to the vagina, a cyst forms from the fluid that cannot find its way out and accumulates inside the gland.

If the cyst, which usually appears on one side, becomes infected, an abscess forms that may require a surgical procedure to drain it, depending on its size and the magnitude of the pain it causes.

Among the causes of the accumulation of fluid that causes the appearance of the cyst or abscess, the following stand out:

  • Infections.
  • Injuries.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Chlamydia.
  • Gonorrhea.

Signs and symptoms Bartholin’s cyst

When the Bartholin cyst is small and does not present an infection, it may not show symptoms, although you may feel a bulge in the vaginal area. At the time an infection develops, the symptoms are as follows:

  • Pain.
  • Vaginal hypersensitivity.
  • Difficulty sitting or walking.
  • Painful sexual intercourse.
  • High fever.

How can I prevent it?

  • Maintaining proper hygiene in the vaginal area.
  • Refraining from wearing underwear made of synthetic materials or very tight clothing.
  • Using a condom during sexual intercourse.

Diagnosis and treatment Bartholin’s cyst

Once your gynecologist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a pelvic exam to make the diagnosis.

Additionally, they will take samples of vaginal fluids to be analyzed and determine if there is a sexually transmitted disease or will perform a needle biopsy to rule out any type of cancer.

The treatment to be followed for a Bartholin cyst will depend on its volume, the magnitude of the symptoms, and whether there is an infection, but the most common include:

  • Antibiotics.
  • Warm sitz baths.
  • Surgery to drain the abscess.

In case of recurrence of the cysts, the recommendation is to perform a marsupialization, which is a procedure that consists of making an opening in the gland through a drainage cut and suturing the ends to keep it open permanently.

When, despite these procedures, the cyst reappears, the only option is to surgically remove the Bartholin’s gland.

Comprehensive women’s health is our priority at the Women’s Center, so we offer services focused on women in all their chronological stages with the highest standards of care to improve their quality of life, through a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services.

Specialists

It has three specialized units:
Obstetrics Center
Gynecology Center
Gynecology in adolescence

Related centers and departments

Women’s Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • cun.es
  • cigna.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • topdoctors.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Pineda-Mateo M, Brenner-Anidjar RD, Lorca-Alfaro S, et al. Leiomioma vulvar de localización en la glándula de Bartolino: un dilema diagnóstico. Ginecol Obstet Mex. 2021;89(10):818-825.

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