Gynecologic Conditions
Bartholin Cyst: Symptoms, Home Care and Treatment
A Bartholin cyst is a fluid-filled swelling that forms when one of the two Bartholin glands, on either side of the vaginal opening, gets blocked. Small cysts are often painless and can go away with warm soaks. If the cyst gets infected, it becomes a painful abscess that usually needs to be drained by a clinician.
Finding a new lump down there is scary, and most people's first thought is an STI or cancer. Bartholin cysts are neither. They're common, benign, and very treatable. Here's how to tell what you're dealing with and what to do next.
Where are the Bartholin glands?
They're two pea-sized glands just inside the vaginal opening, at roughly the 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. They release a little fluid that keeps the vulva moist. Normally you can't see or feel them at all.
When the tiny opening of a gland's duct gets blocked, fluid backs up and forms a cyst. If that fluid gets infected, pus collects and it becomes an abscess.
Cyst or abscess? How to tell
The difference usually comes down to pain and speed.
| Bartholin cyst | Bartholin abscess | |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | None to mild | Moderate to severe |
| Appearance | Soft, skin-colored lump | Red, swollen, hot lump |
| Develops | Gradually | Over days |
| Fever | No | Sometimes |
| Typical treatment | Sitz baths, monitoring | Drainage, sometimes antibiotics |
A cyst is a round, soft lump on one side of the opening. It might make one side of the vulva look puffy. Small ones cause no symptoms and are sometimes found at a routine exam. Bigger ones rub when you walk, sit or have sex.
An abscess builds over a few days and hurts. A lot. Many people say sitting down is the worst part, and walking to the subway feels like a project. The lump is red, hot, and tense or firm. Some people get fever or chills, and sometimes it opens and drains pus on its own.
What causes Bartholin cysts?
The duct gets blocked, sometimes from swelling, thick mucus or a minor injury. Abscesses are caused by bacteria, often the ordinary kind from the skin and gut. Occasionally, bacteria that cause STIs such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are involved, which is why your clinician may test for them. That test isn't an accusation. It's routine.
Bartholin cysts are most common during the reproductive years.
Home care that actually helps
For a small, mildly uncomfortable cyst, home care may be all you need.
- Sitz baths. Sit in a few inches of warm water, in the tub or in a plastic sitz bath basin that fits over the toilet seat (most pharmacies carry them), several times a day for about 10 to 15 minutes. The warmth can help the duct open and drain. No need to add anything to the water.
- Warm compresses. A warm, damp washcloth held against the area works between baths, or at work.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, following the package or your clinician's advice.
- Loose, breathable underwear and skip the tight jeans for a few days.
Give it a few days. If it's shrinking, keep going. If it's getting bigger, redder or more painful, it's time to be seen.
Don't squeeze, pop or cut it. Yes, everyone is tempted. It pushes infection deeper and makes a repeat more likely.
What happens at the appointment
Your clinician will ask when the lump showed up, whether it hurts, whether it's happened before and whether you've had a fever. Then they'll look and gently feel the area. It takes about a minute.
If it's a small, uninfected cyst, you'll likely go home with sitz bath instructions and a plan to come back if it doesn't improve. If it's an abscess, drainage can often happen the same day, right in the office.
Incision and drainage
The area is numbed with local anesthetic (the numbing shot stings for a few seconds, and then the relief from the pressure is often immediate). A small cut lets the fluid out. It's quick, but on its own the opening tends to close and the cyst can come back.
Word catheter
After draining, a small balloon-tipped tube (a Word catheter) is placed in the gland and left for several weeks, so a new, permanent opening forms. It's usually done in the office with local anesthesia. Most people say they're aware of it but it isn't painful once it settles. A sample may go to the lab, including STI testing.
Marsupialization
For cysts that keep coming back, the clinician makes a small cut and stitches the edges open to create a permanent pouch-like opening. It's usually done in the office or as a short outpatient procedure.
Antibiotics
Prescribed if there's a spreading skin infection, a confirmed STI or other risk factors. Many abscesses get better with drainage alone.
Gland removal
Reserved for cysts that keep returning despite everything else. It's a bigger procedure done in an operating room.
Recovery after drainage or a catheter
- Soreness for a few days
- Light drainage or discharge (wear a pad, not a tampon)
- More sitz baths
- A follow-up visit, especially if a catheter was placed
Ask before you leave when you can have sex and use tampons again. People often forget and then aren't sure.
Can Bartholin cysts be prevented?
There's no proven way. Condoms lower the risk of the STIs that occasionally play a role, and avoiding harsh soaps and douches keeps the area less irritated.
Bartholin cysts after 40
Bartholin gland cancer is rare. But new lumps here are less typical later in life, so clinicians often recommend a biopsy for a new Bartholin mass in anyone over 40 or after menopause, especially if it's firm, irregular, or doesn't go away with treatment. A biopsy is a small sample under local numbing, and it's about being thorough, not about expecting bad news.
Other lumps near the vaginal opening
Not every lump is a Bartholin cyst. Other common culprits are ingrown hairs (very common after shaving or waxing), infected hair follicles, skin cysts, genital warts, herpes sores and, rarely, vulvar cancer. A clinician can usually tell the difference with a quick look.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with a gynecologist or women's health nurse practitioner if:
- You find a new lump near the vaginal opening
- The lump is painful, red or growing
- It hasn't improved after a few days of sitz baths
- Cysts keep coming back
- You're over 40 or postmenopausal and notice a new lump
Get prompt care for severe pain, fever or chills, or redness spreading beyond the lump. Those can signal a serious infection.
Finding care in New York
Most Bartholin cysts and abscesses are handled in a gynecologist's office. When you call, say "I think I have a Bartholin abscess and it's very painful." Many offices will squeeze in a same-day or next-day slot for that. If you can't get in quickly, urgent care or an emergency department can drain it. Browse gynecologists or women's health nurse practitioners, check practices near you in Queens or other boroughs, or use our provider search to filter by insurance anywhere from the five boroughs to Long Island and the Hudson Valley.
Frequently asked questions
Will a Bartholin cyst go away on its own?
Small, painless Bartholin cysts often go away on their own or with warm sitz baths. Larger, painful or infected cysts may need to be drained by a clinician.
Should I pop a Bartholin cyst?
No. Squeezing or cutting it yourself can push infection deeper, cause bleeding and scarring, and make it more likely to come back. If it needs draining, a clinician can do it quickly with numbing medicine.
Is a Bartholin cyst an STD?
No. A Bartholin cyst comes from a blocked gland duct. An abscess is occasionally linked to bacteria that include those that cause STIs, so your clinician may test for them.
Can a Bartholin cyst be cancer?
Bartholin gland cancer is very rare. Because the risk rises with age, clinicians may recommend a biopsy for a new Bartholin lump in people over 40 or after menopause.
Sources
- ACOG — Disorders of the Vulva (Patient FAQ)
- MedlinePlus — Bartholin cyst or abscess
- NIH, National Library of Medicine — Bartholin Gland Cyst (StatPearls)
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.