by Jon Wagner

Created on: August 04, 2009

To start the Bartholin's Gland is a tiny organ on each of the labia (vaginal lips) near the opening of the vagina. They are found on each side just below the middle. Normally these glands are invisible. Their purpose is to make a small amount of fluid to lubricate the vaginal lips. A Bartholin's Gland cyst occurs when a piece of skin grows over the opening of the gland causing the fluid to back up which makes the gland swell. These cysts can grow from the size of a penny to the size of an orange but rarely get above the size of a golf ball. These cysts have been known to get infected so treating them fast can only help you.

The only way to know for sure if it is a cyst is to ask your doctor.

To get a cyst treated there are four factors that must be taken into consideration, and they are the size of the cyst, how painful it is, if it's infected, and your age.

If the cyst is small it may be treated by soaking the area in a few inches of warm water (called a sitz bath) a few times a day for three to four days. This will cause the cyst to break or rupture and drain its fluid with little or no discomfort. In other cases doctors will preform a small operation in the office. In this procedure the doctor makes a small incision in the cyst and inserts a catheter into the incision. The catheter remains in the cyst for four to six weeks draining the fluid.

In bigger cysts a procedure called marsupialization is often used to drain the fluid. The doctor makes a small cut in the cyst to drain the fluid and then stitches are the put in at the edge of the cyst leaving a small opening. This may cause a small discharge; Panty liners should be more than enough to deal with this discharge.

Less commonly used procedures include the use of a laser or removing the gland completely.

Now none of these treatments except for the total removal of the glad will ensure you never get another cyst.

In all honesty there is no real way to prevent the Bartholin's Gland from forming a cyst over it. If you think you have a Bartholin's Gland cyst, make sure you tell your doctor straight away so treatment can start before the cyst has a chance to get worse.

Sorce: Familydoctor.org

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