Do I Have Bartholin’s Cyst?

Do you have a small painless lump or a mass near your vaginal opening?

Do you have a tender, painful lump near your vaginal opening?

Do you have a lump only on one side of the vaginal opening?

Do you have redness or swelling in the vulva area (the skin surrounding the vagina)?

Have you noticed that one side of your vagina look swollen or bigger than usual?

Do you have discomfort while walking or sitting?

Do you have a pain during intercourse?

Do you have fever and chills?

Do you have unusual vaginal discharge?

Do you have drainage from the cyst?

Are you a woman in your 20s?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a Bartholin’s cyst. A Bartholin's cyst is a small sac filled with fluid, located just inside the vaginal opening. There are two pea-sized glands on each side of the opening of a woman's vagina, called the Bartholin's glands. During sexual arousal, they produce a fluid that lubricates the vagina. In some cases, the openings of these glands can become blocked, causing fluid to return to the glands, leading to swelling called a Bartholin's cyst. It is common in young women in their 20s. Sometimes, it is the result of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a Bartholin’s cyst. The Bartholin’s glands are two small glands located on either side of the vaginal opening. They produce a fluid that moistens your outer genital area called the vulva. The Bartholin’s gland can become blocked due to infection, inflammation or injury resulting in a painless swelling called a Bartholin’s cyst. It is a soft lump that doesn’t usually cause problems. The cyst can vary in size, from a pea to a large marble. If you have a large cyst, you may feel uncomfortable walking, sitting or having sex. Diagnosing is based on a physical examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a Bartholin’s cyst. A Bartholin’s cyst is a fluid-filled sac that usually appears on one side of the vaginal opening. It is the result of the accumulation of fluid in the Bartholin’s glands, which are located under the skin in the women’s genital area. In some cases, a Bartholin’s cyst can become infected and filled with puss. The firm, swollen and painful pus-filled cyst is called an abscess. A Bartholin’s cyst can clear up within a few weeks with a proper treatment. Treatment options include sitz baths, surgical drainage, antibiotics and marsupialization.