Bartholin's Cyst

What is a Bartholin's cyst?

A Bartholin's cyst is a lump that can form near the opening of your vagina. It happens when tiny glands that help keep your vagina moist get blocked. These cysts are quite common and usually affect women between 20 and 50 years old.

What does it feel like?

The main sign is a soft lump on one side near your vagina opening. It might be as small as a pea or as big as a golf ball. Many women don't notice any symptoms at first.

If the cyst grows bigger, you might notice:

• Discomfort when walking, sitting, or having sex
• One side of your vaginal area looking larger or swollen
• Some pain around the area

When cysts become infected

Sometimes a Bartholin's cyst can become infected, turning into what doctors call an abscess. This is more serious and needs urgent treatment.

See a GP urgently or call 111 if you have:

• A lump that gets bigger and more painful within hours or days
• Pus coming from the lump
• Feeling unwell or having a high temperature
• The area becoming very tender, swollen, hot and red

These are warning signs that the cyst has become infected and needs immediate medical attention.

What can you do at home?

If your GP has told you that you have a Bartholin's cyst, it will often go away on its own without treatment. Here's what you can do to feel more comfortable:

Things that help:

• Sit in a warm bath several times a day for 3 to 4 days
• Hold a warm, damp cloth gently against the cyst
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain relief

Important - don't try to:

• Squeeze the cyst
• Try to drain it yourself
• Pop it like a spot

This can cause a serious infection.

What if the cyst bursts?

If a Bartholin's cyst bursts on its own, don't worry - this is normal and should ease the pain. Just keep the area clean and dry to prevent infection.

When to see your GP

Always speak to your GP if:

• You find any new lump in or around your vagina
• You're worried about any changes in this area

Your GP will examine the lump to work out what it might be. You can ask for someone else to be in the room with you during the examination if this would make you feel more comfortable.

Treatment options

Many Bartholin's cysts don't need any treatment and go away naturally. If your cyst becomes infected, your GP might prescribe antibiotics.

For cysts that keep coming back or don't respond to antibiotics, a small procedure might be needed to drain the fluid. This can usually be done with local anaesthetic, so you stay awake during the procedure.

Remember

Having a Bartholin's cyst is common and nothing to be embarrassed about. While most cysts are harmless, it's always important to get any new lumps checked by your GP to make sure you get the right care.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.