The human anatomy is quite fascinating, with different parts performing different functions. Some very obvious, some seemingly unimportant but all necessary for complete well being.
Today’s topic involves a part of the female anatomy that most of us may likely never have heard of before called the Bartholins glands
I know, even the name sounds somehow.
So what are the Bartholin glands?
They are two small organs under the skin in a woman’s genitalia area. They are on either side of the labia (I.e the “lips” around the vagina)
Under normal circumstances you can not see or feel these glands. They just stay there quietly performing their duty which is to produce small amounts of fluid which moisten the outer genital area. This fluid comes out of two tiny tubes near the opening of the vagina and these tubes are called Bartholin ducts.
What are Bartholin gland cysts?
If one of these tiny tubes gets blocked, fluid which is normally supposed to flow out gets backed up in the gland. The blocked gland is called a Bartholin gland/duct cyst. This usually presents as a swelling near the vagina. The size of this swelling can vary from as small as a pea to as large as a marble.
The good news is that most times these cysts are small and painless. If you have one you may feel like something is different down there but it may not even be visible. Sometimes they can go away without any treatment.
The not so good news is that in some cases they can become infected and this is known as a Bartholin gland abscess. And this requires treatment.
What causes a Bartholin gland cyst?
Things like an infection, thick mucus or swelling can cause blockage in the ducts and cause a cyst. The cyst can get bigger after sex because the glands make more fluids during sex.
As you can imagine this may be a bit embarrassing but it’s quite harmless.
A STI can also cause a Bartholin cyst to become infected so it’s important to always use protection.
What are the symptoms?
You may not have any symptoms if the cyst is small, but a large or infected cyst (abscess) can cause symptoms.
Symptoms of a cyst that is not infected include:
- A painless lump in the vulva area.
- Redness or swelling in the vulva area.
- Discomfort when you walk, sit or have sex.
Symptoms of an infected cyst include:
- Pain that gets worse and makes it hard to walk, sit or move around.
- Fever and chills.
- Swelling in the vulva area.
- Drainage from the cyst.
Treatment
Some cysts go away without treatment. Some can pop on their own (like a boil) and the fluid drains out by itself.
You can take over the counter pain killers to relieve pain if you have any. To help healing you can also soak the area in a shallow, warm bath or a sitz bath.
If the cyst is large and painful it is important to see a doctor. Treatment in cases like this include drainage of the cyst as well as a course of antibiotics. To keep the cyst from closing and filling up again a small tube may be inserted into the cyst. This can be removed after the gland has healed.
It is possible to have a recurrence and in cases of multiple recurrence of cysts it may be necessary to surgically remove the Bartholin gland and duct.
So now that you’ve learnt about this tiny organ that’s responsible for “wetness” down there, hopefully you would recognize the symptoms if you ever have them or if a friend of yours describes them to you. It’s always advisable to discuss any symptoms with your doctor, no matter how embarrassing you think they are. Remember that your doctor has most likely seen it all.
It is best to avoid sex while a Bartholin cyst is healing as having sex may cause more pain and possible infection.
