Catheter treatment for a Bartholin cyst

The device lets fluid continue to escape while a new drainage channel forms. It is commonly considered when a cyst or abscess is painful enough to require drainage.

After numbing the area, the clinician makes a small opening in the swelling, releases the trapped fluid and inserts the catheter. A tiny balloon at its tip is filled to help hold it inside the cavity. The free end remains outside near the vaginal opening.

The catheter is intended to remain in place for a period set by the treating clinician. Mild tenderness or a small amount of drainage can occur at first, but pressure from the original swelling should ease after effective drainage.

Follow the specific washing, bathing and activity advice from the clinic. Keep the area gently clean, pat rather than rub, wear comfortable underwear and use a pad if there is discharge. Do not pull, twist, inflate, deflate or reposition the catheter yourself.

Confirm when sexual activity, swimming and vigorous exercise can resume, because friction may dislodge the device or irritate healing tissue. Attend the planned follow-up even when symptoms improve so the clinician can check the channel and arrange removal.

Contact the treating service if the catheter falls out, becomes very painful, appears displaced, stops draining while swelling returns, or causes ongoing bleeding. The service can decide whether it needs replacement; do not try to put it back.

Urgent assessment is warranted for fever, chills, spreading redness, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, foul-smelling discharge or feeling markedly unwell. These changes may signal continuing or spreading infection rather than normal recovery.

Ask how long your catheter is expected to stay, how to clean around it, what drainage is expected, who to call if it slips out, and how removal will be arranged. If cysts recur, ask whether marsupialisation is suitable.