A Bartholin's cyst is formed when a Bartholin's gland is blocked, causing a cyst to develop. If infection sets in, the result is a Bartholin's abscess. If the infection is severe or repeated a surgical procedure known as marsupialization may be required to stop further recurrences. Most of the time, a Bartholin's cyst is not an infection, although it can be caused by an infection. The cysts that are infected, however, are called abscesses. A cyst can grow from the size of a penny to almost the size of a whole orange but most of them can only reach the size of a normal sized golfball. Cysts can be sexually transmitted by the germs that are contained in the cysts.

Treating a Bertholin's cyst

The treatment can depend on one or more of these factors: the size of the cyst, how painful it is, if it's infected and your age. In some cases, a small cyst can just be watched over time to see if it grows. In other cases, the doctor can perform a minor procedure in the office. In this procedure, the doctor puts a small tube, called a Word catheter, into the cyst. The catheter stays in place for 2 to 4 weeks, draining the fluid and causing a normal gland opening to form. Then the catheter is easily taken out in the doctor's office. If you have this catheter put in, you can go on with your normal activity, although having sex would be uncomfortable while the catheter is in place. Cysts are un-fatal, although they can be quite a pain and can even make it difficult for you to walk. You can't really prevent cysts from forming although if you get the first one surgically or lazerly removed, it is highly unlikely for you to get one again.

Although many sites claim that if you get a cyst treated once, it is "highly unlikely" that it will ever come back. However, many women find -- and doctors say -- that if you get one, it means you are more susceptible to multiple recurrences. Some women suffer from them once every few years, while the more unlucky ones get them once a month or more. No one seems to have a good explanation for what causes these cysts or what one can do to help prevent them. Many women who have marsupialization done find that the recurrences may slow, but do not actually stop (maybe every few years as opposed to every few months prior to the surgery).

External links

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• AAFP
• GP Notebook
• Bartholin's Gland site

Gynecology