How is a Bartholin cyst different from an abscess?

A cyst is a fluid-filled lump. If it gets infected, it becomes an abscess — red, swollen, warm, and very painful — and usually needs to be drained.

Can a Bartholin cyst go away on its own?

A small one sometimes drains and clears on its own, and warm sitz baths can help. Larger or infected ones usually need treatment, so don't wait if it's growing or painful.

Is treatment painful?

Your provider numbs the area first, so you should feel mostly pressure during drainage. Some soreness afterward is normal; sitz baths and over-the-counter pain relievers help.

Will it come back after treatment?

Most do not return, but some do. If a cyst keeps coming back, options like marsupialization or removing the gland can help. Dr. Cryer will talk through the best plan.

Stethoscope representing Bartholin cyst and abscess care in Sherman, TX

BARTHOLIN CYST & ABSCESS CARE IN SHERMAN, TX

Q: What is a Bartholin cyst?

A soft lump near the opening of the vagina that forms when a Bartholin gland gets blocked and fluid backs up. Small ones are often painless — and they are not cancer.

Bartholin Cyst & Abscess Treatment and Drainage -
Serving Sherman, Denison & Texoma

Relief from that painful bump near the vaginal opening

A Bartholin cyst is a soft lump that forms near the opening of the vagina when one of the Bartholin glands gets blocked. Many are painless — but if the gland gets infected, it can become a Bartholin abscess: red, swollen, and very tender. At G. DeAn Strobel, MD, PA in Sherman, TX, Dr. Karissa Cryer treats Bartholin cysts and abscesses for women across North Texas and the Texoma area, from simple in-office care to drainage when it's needed. If you have a painful bump "down there," you don't have to wait it out. Call or text 903-957-0275.

What is a Bartholin cyst? You have two Bartholin glands, one on each side of the vaginal opening, that help keep the area moist. If the tiny opening of a gland gets blocked, fluid backs up and forms a cyst. A small cyst may cause only a painless lump or a feeling of fullness. Bartholin cysts are common — and they are not cancer.

When it becomes an abscess. If bacteria get into a blocked gland, it can become infected and fill with pus — a Bartholin abscess. This tends to come on quickly and hurts: the area turns red, swollen, and warm, and it can make sitting, walking, or sex painful. An abscess usually needs to be drained to bring relief.

How is it treated? Treatment depends on the size, the pain, and whether it is infected. A small, comfortable cyst may just be watched, and warm sitz baths (soaking in a few inches of warm water) can help it drain on its own. For a larger or infected one, Dr. Cryer can drain it and often places a small Word catheter — a soft tube with a tiny balloon that stays in for a few weeks so the gland heals open. If a cyst keeps coming back, a procedure called marsupialization (stitching the edges open so it stays drained) can help, and in rare cases the whole gland is removed. Antibiotics may be added if there is an infection.

When to be seen. Come in if you have a painful or growing lump near the vaginal opening, redness and swelling, a fever, or a bump that keeps coming back. Quick care brings fast relief and lowers the chance of it returning. To learn more about the in-office and surgical options, visit our Vulvar Surgery page. To be seen soon, call or text 903-957-0275.

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