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Dr. Alice,
My wife discovered an unnatural lump on the one side of the labia some four years ago. It was
small and never bothered her. She is currently twenty-three-years-old. After we got married recently,
and she became sexually active, the lump has increased in size, and is sometimes painful. I took her
to the local ER where the GP on duty examined her and diagnosed it as a Barcelona Cyst. He
consulted with the Gynae on call who wanted to remove the cyst the next morning under general
anesthesia (sic). We decided (sic) to wait and get a second opinion since we don't favour the idea of
general anesthesia. He also prescribed wide spectrum antibiotic for one week because he said that
the cyst look infected. The cyst is approx 2 cm x 1 cm big and quite hard.
I can find no reference to a "Barcelona" cyst. Could you please give some more information
and some advice?
Thank you.
James
Dear James,
On either side of the vaginal opening is a pair of glands called the Bartholin ("Barcelona" was close) or vestibular glands. The Bartholin gland produces fluid that lubes the vulva's inner lips. Located on each side of the entrance into the vagina (introitus), this substance can ease penetration. If the opening to either of these glands becomes blocked, a Bartholin cyst is formed that can make a bulge in the lip near the opening of the vagina. The cyst can also swell and become tender. Small, uninfected cysts may not have to be treated, but do need to be monitored by a health care provider.
Bartholin cysts can also become infected, forming what are known as abscesses. Abscesses can be
excruciatingly painful and require treatment, such as oral antibiotics. Warm baths or compresses can
help alleviate discomfort till your wife sees a provider. Cysts that cause pain or other problems can be
drained by the provider by inserting a small tube (called a catheter) into the gland or by making an incision
directly into the gland itself. In some cases, surgical removal of the Bartholin gland is recommended,
particularly for women with recurrent cysts. Fortunately, once cysts are treated with surgery, they're
less likely to reoccur.
