Brief Answer: Detailed explanation given below. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, If the location is in the hair line of the labia it is most likely a follicular cyst [ from the hair follicle] or a sebaceous cyst. Bartholins cysts are also very common and may grow from the inside and protrude from the labia. They tend to get infected and are very painful. Check to see if you can find a hair seen coming out from a protruding point in the cyst. If yes it is a follicular cyst. If it is big and fluctuating [ means you can press it and it is soft] many times it ruptures by itself and heals. Sebaceous cysts need to be drained as they are less likely to rupture. If you leave it to rupture by itself, once it ruptures clean the part with betadine, express out all the contents and reapply betadine. Keep it clean and dry and you may need to express out the contents once or twice more before it gets completely healed. Follicular cysts begin to drain if the protruding hair is removed. Again follow the above procedure. Hot fomentation and analgesic drugs like acetaminophene help in quicker healing. Infected Bartholins also begin to drain by themselves but are very painful and tend to recur. Hence they need a procedure for excision or another procedure called marsupialization. So you may wait for a few days and see how it behaves. If it is getting softer and more likely to rupture, let it rupture and see if it recurs after healing. If it is not showing signs of rupture it may be sebaceous or uninfected Bartholins and then it is better to get examined and see what type it is and then decide about treatment. Hope this satisfies your query. Thanks for using HCM. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist

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Brief Answer: Seems to be infected Detailed Answer: Hi and welcome back, From the description it looks like it is infected but adequate pus has not yet formed for drainage. It will need maybe one or two days to suppurate. You may see your doctor now and get it drained if she feels it possible to drain it now or the doctor will be able to form a better judgement as to when to call you back to get it drained. It is difficult to get infected cysts removed [ draining them is easier] as they become very friable and tend to tear off leading to incomplete removal. However the call can be taken only after examination. So it is better if you visit your gynecologist. Meanwhile if there is too much pain, try local diclofenac ointment small amount pea size applied only just around the cyst on the outside of the labia majora surface [ not to be allowed inside the vagina] and hot fomentation as it helps in easing the pain. I understand the pain and irritation you are going through. Please do not worry. It will go away. Hope I was able to help. I am always here for any queries. Take care. Dr Madhuri

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Brief Answer: You are welcome. Detailed Answer: It was a pleasure answering the query. Get well soon. Dr Madhuri Bagde

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