I popped a Bartholin cyst

A Bartholin cyst forms near the vaginal opening when a gland duct becomes blocked. If it opens, fluid or pus may drain and pressure can ease, but the opening may close before the cavity has cleared. Tenderness, swelling, redness, heat, or foul-smelling drainage can suggest an abscess or infection. A lump that keeps returning may need a procedure that creates a lasting drainage opening, such as Bartholin Cyst Marsupialisation. Vulval pain can also make sitting or walking difficult.

Wash gently with lukewarm water, pat dry, and wear loose breathable underwear. A warm sitz bath may soothe discomfort if it does not worsen symptoms. Use a clean pad for drainage and change it regularly. Do not squeeze, pierce, or insert products into the opening. Avoid sex until pain and drainage have settled. Arrange a clinician appointment if the lump remains, returns, or you are unsure whether it was a Bartholin cyst.

Seek same-day care for increasing pain, spreading redness, fever, chills, difficulty walking or sitting, or feeling unwell. Get urgent help if swelling rapidly enlarges, bleeding does not stop with gentle pressure, or you feel faint. A clinician can check whether an abscess remains and whether drainage, antibiotics, or another treatment is appropriate.

Ask whether the gland has drained fully, how to protect the skin, whether testing or treatment is needed, and what can reduce the chance of another blocked cyst.