Bartholin glands and Bartholin cysts
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Bartholin glands and Bartholin cysts
Bartholin glands are two small glands that are located on each side of the vaginal opening. They produce fluids to lubricate the opening to the vagina. If the duct to a Bartholin gland becomes blocked, fluid builds up inside the gland, causing a cyst.
Bartholin cysts that do not cause symptoms do not need to be treated. A Bartholin cyst that is large, painful, or infected is usually drained and healed open to keep it from coming back (recurring). In rare cases, the gland and duct are surgically removed when a cyst or infection (abscess) recurs after repeated treatments.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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