i noticed my batholin cyst 5 days ago after i had sex with my longtime boyfriend. we've been together for almost 2 years and i've never had this before. i told him and he felt it and said maybe i scratched you or something. so i went a few days to see if the pain and swelling would go down. it didn't. i finally went to the doctors friday and they said it was a batholin cyst, and it was not infected. she told me to take sitz bathes (i've just been sitting in a tub of warm water with a warm washclothe pressed up against me. i didn't think it was working (the water got cold) so i started to use a heating pad. i used that and it felt painless, but when i took it off, i walked around and it hurts again! i wasnt given any antibiotics and i really want to treat this professionlly. i dont want to have it any longer and i dont know what else to do. i was considering trying to pop it, but i dont want to bother it, and make it worse, plus it will hurt like hell!!! i was wondering if anybody had this before, and what you did to make the swelling, the pain, and the bump go away !! should i consider icing it? popping it? or leaving it alone? HELP!!!

Hi-I had my first experience with this over a year ago and it was terrible. My first cyst was probably the size of a golf ball or bigger. My doctor wouldnt lance it because he was afraid that the infection would get into the bloodstream. He gave me antibiotic shots to help me. I had a high fever and I was sick from it. Many of you are asking about what helps to make it come to a head..Well, my fiancee is from El Salvador and his mom does gynecology work. There they have a home remedy that I used BUT you have to be very careful with it. FOr about 3 times a day my fiancee held a lamp to the infected area about for 20 minutes. After we started doing this, the cyst got bigger and bigger and then popped probably about 24 hours later. It was a blessing. My doctor gave me vicodins and I was popping about 1 an hour until my doctor told me he was cutting me off. I think he thought I was some sort of addict even though this was the first time I had ever taken any pain pills.

Oops my msg posted before I was done.
I took over a month to heal and my left side became harder than the right..Now my gland is enlarged again but it doesn't seem to be infected. I noticed this during sex. I'm not sure what I should do. should I bother going to the doctor? It is painful but not like before. After sex the area was bleeding. Will baths help me even though my gland isn't enlarged much?
What exactly is marsupialization?

I'm 30, live in the UK and discovered a cyst on my left labia about 9mths ago, whilst having a routine smear test I asked my GP about it as I had no idea what it was she said it was insignificant but to keep her informed if it became larger or painful. It was eventually bigger than a golf ball and made intercourse quite painful simply due to the sheer size of the cyst, Just as I decided to return to my GP about the matter I felt a burning sensation on the right side, this was on the Saturday morning (I had planned to visit my GP on the following Monday) within hours I was in agony, unable to sit, stand, walk, I was taking painkilliers with no affect. In this short time my right labia was swollen and hanging about an inch below... with having the enlarged gland on the left I couldn't even close my legs! I have never felt pain like it in my life (and I went through 36hrs of labour having my daughter!). So my partner took me to hospital at 4am Sat nite/Sunday morning straight away the doc diagnosed Bartholin Absess on the right side and I was booked in for surgery to drain it and the cyst and carry out a marsupialization on both glands. I was home and completely pain free by 7pm on Sunday evening, Its been 5 days and I'm on 2 different antibiotics, I know I'm healing pretty fast and even considering having intercourse.. though I'll have to see how it goes as my only worry would be further infection.... However since reading this I'm now terrified this may reoccur, no-one I know has even heard of it and the doctors and surgeons told me it was quite rare and there was a good chance it wouldn't reoccur, but it sounds to me like if you've had it once its very likely to reoccur Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I thought I might add that I had a general anesthetic for this procedure, I'd never had one before and I did query if this was neccasary, the surgeon told me it was an extremely painful surgery but I would feel immeadiate relief.. which I did!

Hi. I have recently been searching on the internet for a permanent solution to this thing. First of all I am real glad that I am not the only one that has had it. I had my first in 2002 and at that time my boyfriend and i were having some trouble and he had been unfaithful. We went to the clinic together and can you believe that the nurse said it was an std?? you can imagine how much trouble this caused. The confusing thing was that I had never been with anyone but him and we always used a condom!!! they tested us and we we were negative of all the stds they tested us for. Well we drank the medicine they gave us and of course it did nothing for me. the cyst stayed the same size for two months or so then it just disappeared on its own. We didn't even know it was called a bartholin's cyst!!!

well in 2006 i was living in europe and i was not even sexually active and i had it again. this time it grew as large as a golf ball, developed an abscess and drained raptured all by itself. I saw the gyne the day after it raptured and hallelujah i discovered that this thing was called a bartholin's cyst and that some women get it from time to time. This was a real eye opener for me. Well I stayed another year without it but now its back. I am back home again and had to find a new gyne. the cyst did not form an abscess this time but he gave me antibiotics. the cyst has neither grown nor subsided and i have had it for 4 months now. it doesn't hurt but sometimes is a bit irritating. please, somebody advises me if they know of a permanent cure. I would prefer natural remedies as ia m not a fan of pushing so many chemicals down my throat!!! Help please

I have had this cyst, 5 or more times.
The first time I got one the Dr. showed me a very worn page in a book of the Bartholin cysts.
He said the pages were worn because he has shown this to so many woman and that is how common it is.
I thinks because we are so worried what others will think that we do not share the info with other woman.
I have had them lanced and they drain. You start getting releaf right away. It is a nasty job and some Doctors will not do it. But if it is as big as some of you girls are saying, find a Doctor that will give you treatment right away.
Here is a link that will help you all. I am going to get the gland removed altogether.

http://www.providence.org/healthlibrary/co ntentViewer.aspx?hwid=tw2685&serviceAr ea=generic

What exactly is marsupialization?[/quote]

Marsupialization is a method of treating unremovable cysts: a surgical procedure in which the interior of an unremovable cyst is laid open so that the cyst can be allowed to shrink gradually and spontaneously.

This link will help with questins.

http://www.providence.org/healthlibrary/co ntentViewer.aspx?hwid=tw2685&serviceAr ea=generic


Take care of yourself and I hope you get better soon.
Cindy

The Bartholin glands make a small amount of fluid that moistens the outer genital area, or vulva. This fluid comes out of two tiny tubes next to the opening of the vagina. These tubes are called Bartholin ducts.

A Bartholin cyst that is large, painful, or infected will need to be drained.

You say you are considering trying to pop it, but dont want to bother it, and make it worse, plus it will hurt like hell!!!

I have had them more than once but get the Dr. to drain it and it still hurts like hell. But it got well.

The first one I got the Dr. showed me a very worn page in a book of the Bartholin cysts. He said the pages were worn because he has shown this to so many woman and that is how common it is.

I think because we are so worried what others will think that we do not share the info with other woman.

Here is a link that will help you:

http://www.providence.org/healthlibrary/co ntentViewer.aspx?hwid=tw2685&serviceAr ea=generic#tw2711

I had my left Bartholin gland removed 4 days ago after over 10 years of problems that just never completely went away. It has been excrutiating, but finally improving a bit today. My question is to those who have recovered already, what was the process like for you? I'm frustrated right now because my doctor said I'd be back to work the next day, just no heavy lifting. Well, I did a half day 2 days after, and a full day yesterday and wanted to jump off a bridge by the end I was in such agony. I'm just looking for someone to relate to right now. I'm also happy to answer any questions about my experience, since I know it is so difficult to find another soul who has been through this completely frustrating and often seemingly hopeless situation. But now, I'm beginning to see a glimmer of hope for my future!!

I was diagnosed with the cyst back in March of this year, however by the time I had gotten an appointment with the gyno the cyst had reduced and she said she couldn't operate on it. Now it's back and as painful as ever so I rang the doc and she has asked me to come in tomorrow if it is ok to operate on she will do the surgery tomorrow morning. However as this is all so sudden I know nothing about the surgery, could anyone tell me asap how long is the recovery time, will I have to take some time off work? And how long until all is totally back to normal or are there any long term effects? Very nervous so please help!

I have a few questions...

1) What are your experiences with having multiple cysts/cysts in different spots? I've always had my cysts reoccur in the same spot. In July, it developed into an abscess and I had it drained. That hasn't bothered me that much since then, but two days ago, I got a cyst several inches up from where mine usually are. I've never had one there before. Is this common? Am I going to have them keep recurring and now in two different spots? My doctor prescribed me an antibiotic to deal with this new one; I'm hoping that will take care of it this time.

2) KAT909, you said you were happy to answer any questions. I was wondering, did your doctors seem reluctant to remove the gland? My doctor is very reluctant about this and says that other doctors are too. Was it difficult to find someone to do it?

3) And for others, what was the experience of having the gland removed like? What about the recovery and post-recovery?

Thank you so much if you have time to reply! It is so nice to be able to talk to people who actually experienced these problems.

I have a few questions...

1) What are your experiences with having multiple cysts/cysts in different spots? I've always had my cysts reoccur in the same spot. In July, it developed into an abscess and I had it drained. That hasn't bothered me that much since then, but two days ago, I got a cyst several inches up from where mine usually are. I've never had one there before. Is this common? Am I going to have them keep recurring and now in two different spots? My doctor prescribed me an antibiotic to deal with this new one; I'm hoping that will take care of it this time.

2) KAT909, you said you were happy to answer any questions. I was wondering, did your doctors seem reluctant to remove the gland? My doctor is very reluctant about this and says that other doctors are too. Was it difficult to find someone to do it?

3) And for others, what was the experience of having the gland removed like? What about the recovery and post-recovery?

Thank you so much if you have time to reply! It is so nice to be able to talk to people who actually experienced these problems.

I just had a Bartholin cyst marsupialized 3 weeks ago and things aren't back to normal yet. Still tender and unable to use a tampon or have sex. Any idea how long the recovery takes and if this is normal? I thought that I would be better by now but am feeling frustrated. Anyone with suggestions and insight would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I am so glad I found this site. Am booked in to have mine marsupialised on Wednesday. The lump had been their for 18 months but was too embarassed to get it seen to until just before Christmas when intercourse got tender! Anyhow a few questions:-

Having a general anaesthetic and will be taking two days off work after the op; have told work that I will need light duties the week after .

A fortnight after the op is my partners birthday - is there any chance at all that I will be healed enough to consider intercourse (I'm getting disolvable stiches). Also what will it be like down there at that stage (I'm a good healer usually).

Lastly, where is the incision - have been joking with a friend I may need a Brazilian in order to keep the area cleaner after the op

Sorry for these questions but am fretting a bit and dont want to disappoint my partner!

Well... I did actually go ahead and have intercourse on that 5th day after the op.. it was a tiny bit stingy due to the stitches but a relief all the same, the stitches did take the whole 4/5 weeks to completely dissolve and it was itchy as hell, the only side effect i have had is.. basically the gland seems to be working TOO well now which of course has its benefits but I'm also worried that this is a temporary side effect (though its been 3mths now) and its all gonna block up again!! Has anyone else had this after effect?? I never ever want to go through that again and my heart goes out to all you guys getting recurrent cysts

I'm so ashamed of having this. I've had it for almost ten years...The only way I've been coping is to actually press on it almost daily. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS!!!

I've only told maybe one other person about my problem maybe 4 years ago...but i finally got the doctors to stitch it open. I hope this works I'm so tired of it.

I've never mentioned it to my boyfriend because I'm scared it will gross him out. And I procrastinated having the surgery because I didn't know how to avoid having intercourse without telling him or acting too strange.

Lucky for me he's busy this week so I'll have 5 days to recover without him asking for sex but he knows I was on my period last week so what do I say!??!?!? I could probably tell him the truth, and he'd still love me, maybe even help nurse me back to normal but I don't want him to know...what if I was stinky all that time?

I had to get the proceedure done again on friday. So i had it lanced twice in one week! once on monday...then again on friday. Apparently the first doctor wasn't very familiar with the condition so I went home and nothing drained. It just got bigger.

Friday I went in again and it seems this heaven sent doctor knew what she was doing. So far I seem to be draining and healing well...the pain has subsided substantially... This is day three and I've stopped bleeding but it seems I way too much lubrication down there...which could be a good thing but geee wizzz I hope production slows as it heals.

I think this time the fix might be forever!

Hi there, i had a bartholins cyst which became infected in october last year. It went from nothing to excrutiating pain (i couldn't even walk) in the space of about a day. i had a marsupialisation done but it never really felt quite right, there was still a lump on the left hand side. any a few weeks ago i noticed a pea sized lump on the inside (this is what happened when i first got it) so i went to see a specialist. they said that the cyst was still present but not infected and advised me to have it removed before another infection developed. they cannot removed the gland when there is an infection. So I had the gland removal surgery 9 days ago. I am still recovering, it's black and blue down there but the swelling has gone down dramatically. the only thing i'm a little concerned about is the bleeding. i still have a small amount of blood coming out. i spoke to my surgeoun and she said this was normal, she actually said that it's the 'oozing' of the scar tissue. does anyone else have any info on this? i'd just like to know how long is abnormal for the bleeding to continue... any help would be greatly appreciated... x

Hello northernlights, I have a marsupilization 8 days ago. I was wondering how you were healing.

I am so freaked out right now about the large incision and have been told no intercourse for 6 weeks. I just don't know why it has to be so large. I don't think that I will ever look the same down there and am worried that I will have a hole there.

The doctor says that it needs to heal from the inside out but right now it looks like a big opening. I know it was infected but this treatment seems so barbaric when we are in an age of laproscopy and lasers.

It is so difficult to find information about this condition and the procedure. I wish I could find something that talks about the healing process and what it will look like when it is healed. A duct is a small hole. Why I need a hole that i can stick my finger in is beyond me.

I wish you and everyone here the very best. I will post again regarding my progress. Is there anyone else out there who have this treatment and would be willing to share your healing process?

Thank you