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What Is a Bartholin Cyst?

What Is a Bartholin Cyst?
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Updated on April 17, 2025
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A Bartholin cyst is a fluid-filled lump that forms on the Bartholin glands near the opening of the vagina.

The Bartholin glands sit on either side of the vagina and make lubricating fluid. When these glands get blocked, fluid can back up in them and form a Bartholin cyst.

Bartholin cysts are often small and painless.

 They aren't harmful and can usually be managed at home. But if a cyst gets infected, a healthcare provider may need to drain the cyst or prescribe an antibiotic to clear up the infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Bartholin Cysts

A Bartholin cyst looks like a swollen, round bump on one side of the vaginal opening.

 It can be as small as a pea or as large as a golf ball. It may be filled with fluid or pus if it's infected.
A small cyst probably won't cause any pain or other symptoms.

 Larger or infected cysts can cause symptoms like these:

  • A tender, swollen lump near the opening to the vagina
  • Drainage from the cyst

  • Redness and warmth

  • A fever
  • Pain when you walk, sit, insert a tampon, use the bathroom, or have sex

Illustrative graphic titled Bartholin Cyst Signs and Symptoms A Tender, Swollen Lump Near the Vagina Drainage From the Cyst Redness Warmth Pain Fever. Everyday Health logo
A small Bartholin cyst probably won't cause any discomfort, but larger or infected cysts can cause these symptoms.Everyday Health

Causes and Risk Factors of Bartholin Cysts

The two pea-size Bartholin glands sit on either side of the vagina lips (labia).

 They release fluid through tiny tubes called ducts for vaginal lubrication during sex.
If the opening to one of these ducts becomes clogged or is obstructed, fluid can build up inside and get stuck.

 This fluid backup can happen because of an injury, a sexually transmitted infection (STI), or an infection in or near the vagina. The blocked fluid can swell into a lump.
It could take many years for a cyst to form.

 But within days after growing, the cyst can get infected and form an abscess.
Bartholin cysts most often affect women who:

How Is Bartholin Cyst Diagnosed?

The doctor will first ask about your medical history and do a pelvic exam.

 Expect to be asked questions like these:

  • Have you ever had a Bartholin cyst before?
  • Have you ever been or recently diagnosed with an STI?
  • How long have you had symptoms?
  • Do you feel pain or tenderness while walking, sitting, standing, or having sex?
  • Is there any drainage from the cyst?
  • Are you postmenopausal? There's a very small possibility that the growth could be cancer in postmenopausal women.
The provider may take a sample of fluid from the vagina to test for STIs if they suspect one.

 For women who are postmenopausal or older than 40, the doctor might also perform a biopsy (remove a small piece of tissue from the cyst to send to a laboratory for examination).

 The biopsy sample will be checked for a rare type of cancer called Bartholin's gland cancer.

Treatment and Medication Options for Bartholin Cysts

A small Bartholin cyst that isn't causing symptoms and isn't infected doesn't need treatment.

 It should eventually drain on its own.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help relieve discomfort from the cyst.

Medication Options

Antibiotics may be prescribed when:

  • The cyst comes back or is likely to come back.
  • Incision and drainage doesn't work.
  • You have a fever or other symptoms of an infection.
  • Your doctor thinks you might have sepsis or an STI.

Surgery

A large or infected cyst may need one or more of these procedures to treat it.

  • Needle Aspiration The doctor places a thin needle into the cyst and drains it.

     Needle aspiration may be a good first treatment for Bartholin cysts because it's easy and minimally invasive. But it has a high rate of recurrence, meaning that you're likely to get more cysts in the future after having this procedure.

  • Incision and Drainage After the area has been numbed, the surgeon makes a small incision in the cyst and lets it drain.

     At the same time, the doctor may take a biopsy and remove fluid to be sent to a lab and tested. Like needle aspiration, this procedure has a high recurrence rate.
  • Word Catheter Treatment (Fistulization) In this type of drainage procedure, the surgeon places a thin tube called a Word catheter, which has a small, inflatable balloon on the end, into the cyst opening.

     They fill the balloon with a little bit of salt water to expand the cyst. The opening is partly closed with stitches to hold the balloon catheter in place while the cyst drains and the wound heals. Fistulization can also be done with a Jacobi ring.

     The doctor makes two small openings in the cyst and allows it to drain. Then they pass a rubber catheter into one opening and out the other. The ends of the tube are tied together with silk thread to form a ring shape. That ring remains in place to prevent the cyst from forming again.
  • Marsupialization This surgery is done when Bartholin cysts keep coming back.

     The doctor makes a small incision to drain the cyst, and then puts absorbable stitches on either side to create a permanent opening. A catheter may stay in the incision for a few days to help the cyst fully drain. It takes about two weeks for the incision to heal.
  • Silver Nitrate Gland Ablation The surgeon makes a cut into the skin around the cyst and allows it to drain.

     Then they insert silver nitrate into the hole. Silver nitrate is a chemical that burns wounds or blood vessels to prevent infection and stop bleeding. After a few days, the cyst and silver nitrate will fall out on their own or be removed.
  • Carbon Dioxide Laser Vaporization In this procedure, the doctor uses a carbon dioxide laser to create a hole to drain the cyst.

     Carbon dioxide lasers remove only small slivers of tissue to minimize damage to surrounding areas.
  • Surgery to Remove the Bartholin Gland This procedure may be done if the cyst keeps returning. It's usually done in a hospital under general anesthesia.

     You may need to stay in the hospital for a couple of days afterward.

Complementary and Integrative Therapies

You may be able to drain the cyst using warm baths or compresses. These can also help ease the pain.

  • Sitz baths: Sit in a few inches of warm water for 10 to 20 minutes a few times a day to drain a small cyst that's infected.

  • Warm compresses: Hold a washcloth soaked in warm water against the cyst to relieve pain.

Prevention of Bartholin Cyst

Most Bartholin cysts aren't preventable because their cause isn't known.

 But it's possible to prevent STIs, which are a risk factor for cysts, by using condoms every time you have sex.
These other tips could also help prevent cysts and abscesses.

  • Don't wear tight-fitting underwear or clothes.
  • Practice good hygiene and keep the vagina clean.
  • Wash the vagina with warm water only — no harsh soaps.
  • Don't use scented products in or around the vagina.
  • Wipe from front to back to help prevent E. coli and other infections.

Bartholin Cyst Prognosis

Bartholin cysts often drain and heal on their own.

Some burst open and then heal. How long these cysts last depends on their size and whether they are infected. Most heal fully within a few weeks.

Sometimes Bartholin cysts come back, and they can return more than once.

 Recurrence rates are higher after needle aspiration and incision and drainage than after fistulization, marsupialization, and silver nitrate sclerotherapy.
If you keep getting Bartholin cysts, your doctor will likely switch you to a different type of treatment.

Complications of Bartholin Cyst

Most Bartholin cysts don't cause any serious problems, but some keep coming back and need to be retreated.

 If the fluid inside gets infected and forms an abscess, the cyst may cause pain while walking or sitting.
Very rarely, a Bartholin cyst can be a sign of Bartholin gland carcinoma, a type of vulvar cancer.

The doctor may remove a sample of cells to check them for cancer.

How Many People Have Bartholin Cysts?

About 2 percent of people who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) will visit a doctor for a Bartholin cyst at some point in their lifetime.

 These cysts most often appear during the childbearing years (twenties to forties).

Related Conditions to Bartholin Cysts

Bartholin cysts are linked to infections like E. coli, and to STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia.

 Rarely, these cysts are a sign of Bartholin gland carcinoma, a very uncommon type of vulvar cancer.

The Takeaway

  • A Bartholin cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms in the opening of the vagina.
  • Only about 2 percent of women will see their gynecologist or other healthcare provider for this type of cyst during their lifetime.
  • Many Bartholin cysts drain and heal on their own.
  • If a cyst doesn't go away within a few weeks, it can be surgically drained with a catheter placed inside to prevent it from coming back.

Common Questions & Answers

What causes Bartholin cysts?

Doctors don't know exactly what causes these cysts, but they form when something blocks the Bartholin ducts. Bacteria like E. coli and STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea may increase the risk.

Yes. Often these cysts drain or pop open on their own. If a cyst doesn't go away or gets infected, procedures are available to drain it.

Not all Bartholin cysts are related to STIs. You can get one of these cysts without having an infection, but using condoms every time you have sex can lower the risk.

It's not clear what causes these cysts. Good hygiene habits and keeping the vagina clean might reduce the likelihood you'll get one.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Bartholin's Cyst. Mayo Clinic. April 30, 2022.
  2. Bartholin Cyst. Cleveland Clinic. May 10, 2024.
  3. Overview: Bartholin's Cyst. NHS. October 26, 2021.
  4. Jacobson JD. Bartholin Cyst or Abscess. MedlinePlus. April 16, 2024.
  5. Lee WA et al. Bartholin Gland Cyst. StatPearls. July 5, 2023.
  6. Bartholin's Cyst. Mayo Clinic. April 30, 2022.
  7. Bartholin's Cyst. Nationwide Children's.
  8. Charavil A et al. Acute Bartholin's Gland Abscess Treatment By Simple Needle Aspiration: A Prospective Study. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. September 2022.
  9. Omole F et al. Bartholin Duct Cyst and Gland Abscess: Office Management. American Family Physician. June 15, 2019.
  10. Treatment: Bartholin's Cyst. NHS. October 26, 2021.
  11. Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing. Mayo Clinic. November 20, 2020.
  12. Bartholin's Cyst or Abscess. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. March 2023.
  13. Bartholin's Cyst. Mayo Clinic. April 30, 2022.
  14. Orvos J. What's That Lump? Bartholin's Cyst. Mayo Clinic. January 21, 2022.
  15. Signs and Symptoms of Vulvar Cancers and Pre-Cancers. American Cancer Society. January 16, 2018.
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Kara Smythe, MD

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Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.

She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.

Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.

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