Can men get a Bartholin cyst?

Bartholin glands sit beside the vaginal opening and produce lubricating fluid. A Bartholin cyst forms when a duct from one of these glands becomes blocked.

A lump on the penis, scrotum, perineum or groin may arise from skin, a hair follicle, another gland, a hernia or tissue within the scrotum. Its location, depth, tenderness, mobility and associated skin changes help narrow the possibilities.

A photo or comparison with a partner's diagnosis cannot identify the cause. The term Bartholin cyst may also have been used loosely for a bump near the genitals, but the correct name and treatment depend on the tissue involved.

Arrange an appointment for a new, persistent or painful genital or groin lump. Record when it began, whether it changes with standing or coughing, and whether there is discharge, urinary discomfort, a skin break or recent injury.

Avoid squeezing, piercing or applying harsh antiseptics. These actions can inflame the area and complicate examination. The clinician may examine the skin, groin and scrotal contents and choose testing or imaging according to the suspected source.

Get urgent medical help for sudden severe testicular or scrotal pain, especially with swelling, nausea or a testicle sitting differently. Rapid assessment matters because some causes can affect blood flow to the testicle.

Prompt review is also appropriate for feverishness, pus, spreading redness, difficulty passing urine, rapidly enlarging swelling, or a painful groin lump that becomes firm and cannot be gently reduced. Urgency comes from these symptoms, not from resemblance to a Bartholin cyst.

Ask which structure the lump comes from, whether infection or a hernia is suspected, what tests would clarify the cause, and which changes should trigger urgent care. Mention sexual health concerns openly so the clinician can offer appropriate testing without assuming that infection is the cause.