Bartholin's cyst and abscess

Question 1

what are Bartholins glands?

Answer 1

-pair of pea sized glands either side of posterior part of vaginal opening

-not palpable and produce mucus to help with vaginal lubrication

Question 2

what is a bartholins cyst?

Answer 2

a fluid filled sac within one of the bartholins glands of the vagina

Question 3

how do bartholins cysts form?

Answer 3

-Bartholins ducts become blocked due to build up of mucous secretions and Bartholins glands swell and become tender

Question 4

most common organism to cause a bartholin’s abscess?

Answer 4

E.coli is the most common cause of infected abscess

Question 5

presentation of Bartholins cyst?

Answer 5

-swollen and painful
-typically unilateral
-fluid filled cyst (1-4cm)

if infected= hot, tender, red

Question 6

common causes of Bartholins cyst becoming an abscess?

Answer 6

The cyst itself can become infected, and if left untreated, develops into an abscess

The infective organisms are usually aerobic:
-E.Coli (most common)
-MRSA
-STIs also common

Question 7

how are Bartholins cysts diagnosed?

Answer 7

clinical diagnosis:
-History and examination

Question 8

who may need a biopsy of Bartholins cyst?

Answer 8

women >4 may need biopsy to excluse vulval carcinoma

Question 9

Treatment of bartholins cyst?

Answer 9

-good hygiene
-warm compress
-analgesia

incision should be avoided as cyst will often reoccur

Question 10

treatment of bartholins abscess?

Answer 10

-Word catheter under local anaesthetic (a little tube is inserted and used to drain)
-Marsupilisation under general anaesthetic (cyst is cut open, fluid drained out and skin stitched back together leaving a little ‘kangaroo pouch’ to allow fluid to drain out)

Antibiotics if infected and patient immunocomprimised