Right near the opening of the vagina, there are tiny organs on the labia and these are called the bartholin gland cyst. These cysts and abscesses are usually found in women who are in their reproductive age and affect 2-3 % of all women world over. The cyst can grow to be the size of a penny or in extreme cases, the size of an orange or a golf ball. The bartholin cyst gland can form either in the gland or in the duct that is used to drain the gland. Usually it clears up itself after growing to a certain size and there is nothing to be worried about. They may appear tender an in order to treat it, it must be drained of all fluid. A bartholin gland cyst could be caused by trauma or injury, an infection that causes inflammation and swelling that blocks the duct and causes fluid to build up. If the gland is not infected, the only symptom is a lump formed in the vulva that is painless, although it may appear red and inflamed. If the bartholin gland cyst is infected and abscessed, the condition will be reveal itself by fever, chills, an increase in the size of the swelling over a period of two to four days, irritation and discomfort while engaged in sexual intercourse, tenderness in the area and acute pain while sitting or walking.
The treatment for this condition depends upon it severity and at home, you could try to soak the vaginal area with a warm towel compress. Some people recommend soaking the region in a sitz bath or alternatively sitting in a warm bath. The warm bath as well as warm moist cloth treatment will cause the heat to remove the blockage and help drain out the fluid. If the cyst has become infected, then the health care provider will have to drain it surgically and put you on an antibiotic. Some doctors follow up the drainage with silver nitrate treatment to burn the cyst so that a sac is not formed and it is prevented from recurring. However, in case of frequent recurrence, it may have to be surgically removed. To keep an infection at bay, clean the area with mild soap and warm water and keep the area dry at all times. Do not rub the area around the vaginal opening too hard. Practice safe sex and wear cotton panties to allow the skin to breath. Avoid douching the area or using sprays.
answered by G R