What Is a Bartholin Cyst?

Bartholin glands sit beneath the skin on either side of the vaginal opening and release lubricating fluid through narrow ducts. When a duct is blocked, fluid can collect and create a soft swelling, commonly on one side. A small cyst may cause no discomfort. A larger one can make walking, sitting, or sex uncomfortable.

A cyst is not the same as an abscess. If infection develops, the collection can become an abscess that is increasingly painful, tender, hot, red, or filled with pus. Fever or feeling generally unwell can accompany an abscess.

Arrange a clinical examination for a new lump in or around the vulva so its cause can be confirmed. If a clinician has already identified a small, mildly uncomfortable Bartholin cyst, a warm shallow bath or warm compress may ease discomfort and encourage natural drainage. Do not squeeze, pierce, or attempt to drain it yourself because this can introduce infection or injure the surrounding tissue.

Treatment depends on pain, infection, recurrence, and examination findings. A clinician may recommend pain relief, antibiotics when appropriate, or a procedure that drains the fluid and keeps an opening for continued drainage. Marsupialisation creates a small lasting opening at the cyst edge and may be considered for a troublesome or recurring cyst or abscess.

Seek urgent medical assessment if the lump becomes rapidly larger or more painful, releases pus, or is accompanied by fever, spreading redness, warmth, marked swelling, or feeling unwell. These features can indicate an abscess or infection that needs treatment. A lump that persists, returns, feels solid, or first appears after menopause also deserves a timely examination rather than self-treatment.

If pain is severe, you cannot sit or walk comfortably, or your symptoms are worsening quickly, use an urgent-care service. The urgency comes from the pain and signs of infection, not from assuming that every vulval lump has the same cause.

You might ask: Does the examination suggest a cyst or an abscess? Do I need a swab or another test? Is watchful waiting suitable for me? What changes should prompt urgent care? If drainage is recommended, which procedure fits my symptoms and what aftercare will I need?