by P. M. Montgomery

Created on: August 14, 2009

Bartholins glands are two pea sized glands located in the labia surrounding the vagina and urethra in women. Normally, they cannot be seen or felt and there is one on each side.

They function to produce moisture to the outer genital area or vulva. The fluid comes from the glands via tiny tubes called ducts and when one of these ducts becomes blocked, the fluid backs up in the gland. The gland slowly grows in size and is referred to as a Bartholins gland cyst. They can range in size from pea size to a large marble. So a blockage of the duct is the cause of a Bartholins gland cyst.

Most of the time they are small and painless and some even go away without any treatment. The duct can be blocked by a growth of skin, infection, swelling, or even thick mucus.

If a Bartholines gland cyst is infected, then it may have been caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Using a condom can lower the risk of infection.

Most of the time, though, a Bartholins gland cyst is not infected, but they can be caused by an infection. An infected cyst is called an abscess and contains the normal bacteria that are on your skin. Some abscesses, though, are caused by bacteria that are sexually transmitted. Infected cysts are very painful and require treatment by your doctor. Some start small, as stated earlier, but have been known to get as large as an orange, but those are rare. Most don't get bigger than a golf ball, but even at that size, sitting, walking, and sexual intercourse can be extremely painful with an abscess.

Treatment depends on the size of the cyst, how painful it is, if it's infected or not and even your age plays a factor. A small cyst can be treated with daily sitz baths. This is when you sit in warm water three to four times a day until the cyst ruptures and drains on its own with minimal discomfort for you.

Sometimes the doctor has to make a small incision in the cyst and place a small drain into it and let the fluid drain out over four to six weeks. You can go about your normal activities, but ask about sexual activity first while the drain is in place.

Another procedure is to make a small hole in the cyst and put stitches around the edge so the hole stays open, allowing the fluid to drain out. Panty liners should be all you need to wear for the discharge for both procedures.

These procedures are done in the doctor's office under a local anesthesia.

Bartholins gland cysts can recur and if you get them repeatedly, the doctor can remove the gland completely in a same day surgery center.

There really is no way to prevent a Bartholins gland cyst from forming other than using a condom to prevent a sexually transmitted disease from being the cause of the blockage.

http://women.webmd.com/tc/bartholin-gland-cyst-topic -overview

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/r eproductive

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