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What Are Bartholin Gland Cyst?
Question: Family doc said this is a Bartholin gland cyst. No symptoms. I am age 63 and had never heard of this gland until he mentioned it. Now very concerned. Smaller than a pea. Doc said 'It'll go away'. 'No need to worry'.
No STD. No HPV. No questionable paps. No dx'd Lichen Sclerosis. Non smoker. Had 2 recurrent UTI's in Feb. and late March, treated with Suprax and then 15 days of Keflex to kill off possible remaining cells. Klebsiella P. was cultured in urine but at 10,000 cells.
Been using 1% hydrocortisone for years as an external vaginal lubricant on the advice of a PA. Up to 3 x's a day. That has caused permanent redness of genitals and labia major.
Do you agree with this regarding 'it'll go away' and 'not to worry'?
Concerned after reading online literature.
No STD. No HPV. No questionable paps. No dx'd Lichen Sclerosis. Non smoker. Had 2 recurrent UTI's in Feb. and late March, treated with Suprax and then 15 days of Keflex to kill off possible remaining cells. Klebsiella P. was cultured in urine but at 10,000 cells.
Been using 1% hydrocortisone for years as an external vaginal lubricant on the advice of a PA. Up to 3 x's a day. That has caused permanent redness of genitals and labia major.
Do you agree with this regarding 'it'll go away' and 'not to worry'?
Concerned after reading online literature.
Brief Answer:
Do not worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome,
I am Dr Madhuri Bagde a consultant gynecologist.
Even though the query is for neurologist the question pertains to gynecology so I chose to answer it. If however you feel that you need this to be answered by a neurologist kindly mention this in your next query and I will stop answering it and send it to other doctors.
As of now I have seen the pictures. It looks like a bartholins cyst but from the picture it seems that there is some yellow stuff in it. So make sure it is not an abscess. Also the location is a bit eccentric for a cyst as cysts usually occupy the labia majora. This is more on the inside. So maybe a vaginal wall cyst.
Please do not worry. This is a small gland located in the labia and sometimes its duct gets blocked and forms a cyst. If it becomes infected it becomes an abscess. So if it infects it needs drainage.
As of now the cysts hardly disappear by themselves. However small abscesses may get resolved after sometime. But they tend to recur.
The best strategy is to get it removed. The procedure is very simple and will result in permanant cure and also it will give a chance to have it examined under a microscope to confirm what it is.
So do not worry. These are very common. Nothing to do with STD. Do not use so much of hydrocortisone. Try some other lubricant like glycerine or try evalon cream [ estrogen ] just ONCE at night time daily for a few days to help with dryness after discussing with your doctor.
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
Do not worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome,
I am Dr Madhuri Bagde a consultant gynecologist.
Even though the query is for neurologist the question pertains to gynecology so I chose to answer it. If however you feel that you need this to be answered by a neurologist kindly mention this in your next query and I will stop answering it and send it to other doctors.
As of now I have seen the pictures. It looks like a bartholins cyst but from the picture it seems that there is some yellow stuff in it. So make sure it is not an abscess. Also the location is a bit eccentric for a cyst as cysts usually occupy the labia majora. This is more on the inside. So maybe a vaginal wall cyst.
Please do not worry. This is a small gland located in the labia and sometimes its duct gets blocked and forms a cyst. If it becomes infected it becomes an abscess. So if it infects it needs drainage.
As of now the cysts hardly disappear by themselves. However small abscesses may get resolved after sometime. But they tend to recur.
The best strategy is to get it removed. The procedure is very simple and will result in permanant cure and also it will give a chance to have it examined under a microscope to confirm what it is.
So do not worry. These are very common. Nothing to do with STD. Do not use so much of hydrocortisone. Try some other lubricant like glycerine or try evalon cream [ estrogen ] just ONCE at night time daily for a few days to help with dryness after discussing with your doctor.
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
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor and thank you for answering. Somehow the computer switched my query from OB GYN to Neuro and it had posted before I saw the error.
The one photo is misleading. That spot is not yellow, just the light reflection made it look that way.
I got in to see a gyno who specializes in older women. There is NO cyst of any sort. The spot of concern is my episiotomy scar. It didn't grow back together right at the edge. If you note, in one photo, you can actually see the line from the scar. He checked very, very carefully and had me show him what I was questioning. He could not feel the bartholin glands and since I was so concerned.... checked both sides twice. Nothing abnormal in any way. While there, he went ahead and did a full exam. All was well.
He also gave me a cream and said to stop the hydrocortisone.
Thank you for your help!
The one photo is misleading. That spot is not yellow, just the light reflection made it look that way.
I got in to see a gyno who specializes in older women. There is NO cyst of any sort. The spot of concern is my episiotomy scar. It didn't grow back together right at the edge. If you note, in one photo, you can actually see the line from the scar. He checked very, very carefully and had me show him what I was questioning. He could not feel the bartholin glands and since I was so concerned.... checked both sides twice. Nothing abnormal in any way. While there, he went ahead and did a full exam. All was well.
He also gave me a cream and said to stop the hydrocortisone.
Thank you for your help!
Brief Answer:
Glad that things ahve been sorted.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am glad that things have been sorted out, as I had already said that the location was not typical for a bartholins cyst.
Glad that the problem has been sorted out.
Take care.
Dr Madhuri
Glad that things ahve been sorted.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am glad that things have been sorted out, as I had already said that the location was not typical for a bartholins cyst.
Glad that the problem has been sorted out.
Take care.
Dr Madhuri
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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