What Is Bartholin Gland Cyst? Dr Cuterus Explains

If you’re Insta savvy, chances are you have come across Dr Cuterus. For the uninitiated, Dr Tanaya Narendra, who goes by Dr Cuterus on Instagram, is a surgeon and embryologist, who breaks taboo around sex, masturbation, and vaginal health, one Insta post at a time. ‘Bartholin gland cyst’ was the topic of her latest Instagram reel. When it comes to our bodies in general and health in particular, there is still a lot we don’t know, and Bartholin gland cyst is one such issue. So, what is it?

What Is Bartholin Gland Cyst?

Before understanding the cyst, you need to know what the Bartholin gland is. Your vagina remains moist. This is because it has “natural lubricant factories” called the Bartholin gland, Dr Cuterus explains. There is not one but two glands situated on either side of the vaginal openings. “Sometimes, these get blocked, leading to a pea size or marble-sized swelling, which is called a Bartholin gland cyst,” Dr Tanaya explained.

Why Do The Bartholin Gland Cyst Form?

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The Bartholin glands make the fluid, but it travels to your vagina through ducts. When these ducts get blocked, the fluid rushes back to it, causing swelling, or cysts, called the Bartholin gland cyst, as per a leading health website. These are benign in most cases, which means they are generally non-cancerous in nature.

Also read: 6 Home Remedies To Maintain Vaginal pH Balance

Symptoms Of Bartholin Gland Cyst

Generally, a Bartholin gland cyst doesn’t cause any symptoms, unless it gets large or infected, in which case, you’ll experience the following symptoms:

• You’ll have swelling in that area
• If it gets infected, you will experience pain in that region, as per a health website.
• It could cause pain during sex or even while walking.
• You might also experience fever and chills

Bartholin Gland Cyst: Cause

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So, what causes these glands to get blocked resulting in Bartholin gland cyst? Doctors don’t have a definite answer to this, as per a leading health website. The infection that causes cysts could be because of the bacteria that causes E. coli. It could also result from bacteria, which cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), but these happen in rare cases.

Also read: Vaginal Yeast Infection: Here’s How You Can Avoid The Condition

Treatment For Bartholin Gland Cyst

As per a leading health website, antibiotics are given if the Bartholin gland cyst is infected or you suffer from an STD. Some topical medications could also be given. These are to apply to the skin. Other than these, treatment won’t be needed if you are below the age of 40 and the cyst doesn’t cause any problems.

However, for these, a proper diagnosis is crucial that will help the doctor to diagnose the cause of the cyst. According to that, he/she will prescribe you treatment. But for that, you must consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms associated with the Bartholin gland cyst. Whether it’s fever or chills, swelling, or drainage from the cyst. Pain while sex or walking is probably the most noticeable symptom. Also, if the cyst gets large, it can make the affected side of the labia majora larger than the other. This can be another sign of a Bartholin gland cyst. 

How To Prevent A Bartholin Gland Cyst?

 

 

 

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The Bartholin gland cyst is more common than you think as two out of 10 females are expected to suffer from it at any point in their lives. It’s more common during the 20s as compared to when they get old. So, what is the way to prevent it? “We don’t know,” said Dr Cuterus in her video. However, using a condom might help,” she says.

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