A Bartholin's cyst is a small fluid-filled sac that develops in the skin, on either side of the vagina opening. It’s usually a soft, painless lump that doesn't cause problems. See your GP if you develop a lump or pain there to rule out more serious conditions.
If the Bartholin’s cyst grows very large, it can become noticeable and uncomfortable.
You may feel pain in the skin surrounding the vagina (vulva) when you walk, sit down or have sex.
The cyst can sometimes affect the outer pair of lips surrounding the vagina. One side may look swollen or bigger than usual.
If the cyst becomes infected, it can cause a painful collection of pus (abscess) to develop in one of the Bartholin's glands.
Signs of an abscess include the affected area becoming red, swollen, tender and hot. It can also cause a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above.
Small Bartholin's cysts are sometimes only found during a routine cervical screening test or an examination carried out for another reason.
Always see your GP if you develop a lump in the area around your vagina so they can make a diagnosis and rule out more serious conditions.
If your GP thinks the cyst or one of your Bartholin's glands may be infected, you may need treatment to clear up the infection.
The Bartholin's glands are a pair of pea-sized glands found just behind and either side of the lips that surround the entrance to the vagina.
The glands secrete fluid that acts as a lubricant during sex. The fluid travels down tiny tubes called ducts, into the vagina.
Normally the glands are not noticeable, but occasionally a duct can become blocked, forming a cyst.
It's often not known why the ducts become blocked.
A bacterial infection, or abscess, does not mean that you have a sexually transmitted infection(external link opens in a new window / tab), though in a few cases they can sometimes be linked.
If you don't have any noticeable symptoms, it's unlikely you'll need treatment.
If the cyst is painful, your GP may recommend some simple self care measures.
These include:
If these don't work, see your GP again to advise you on further treatment.
It's not usually clear exactly why Bartholin's cysts develop, so it isn't usually possible to prevent them.
As some cysts are thought to be linked to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), practising safe sex (using a condom every time you have sex) can help reduce your chances of developing one.
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
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