Bartholin Cyst

babicat

Hi Ladies,

I recently got a bartholin cyst and was wondering if anyone has experienced this and has any good advice.

Just to let you know I refuse to have the surgical procedure called marsupialization done. I have been doing sitz baths a few times a day and using a heating pad over top of clothing.

It has been over a week and still not gone.

thank you!

shellsbells85

....

I am not too sure what this type of cyst is...so we can offer any advice, can you explain a bit more what it is to all of us who arent familiar???

babicat

answer to shellsbells85

The Bartholin's glands are located on each side of the vaginal opening. These glands secrete fluid that helps lubricate the vagina. Sometimes the openings of these glands become obstructed, causing fluid to back up into the gland. The result is relatively painless swelling called a Bartholin cyst.
A Bartholin cyst is common. Treatment of a Bartholin cyst depends on the size of the cyst, the pain and whether the cyst is infected. Sometimes home treatment is all you need. In other cases, surgical drainage of the Bartholin cyst is necessary.

Currently I just have a cyst, it isn't infected. I've been doing home treatments which consist of heat applications through a sitz bath and a heating pad. It has been over a week and it hasn't increased in size (which is positive) however, it hasn't significantly decreased either (which is why im seeking help).

shellsbells85

Reply

oh no! Poor u :(

Are you doing these baths and heating pads AFTER being to a doctor or just doing it based on research you have done??

And can they go away on their own at all or is that highly unlikely??

babicat

thanks shellsbells85

I know I'm super duper sad. It totally sucks because it halts your "Sex life" completely.
I saw a doctor they suggested if it doesn't go away to have a surgical procedure done (which I wrote above what it is called). I do not want to do that because the glands serve a purpose to us ladies, they lubricate us. And unless you want to have a lousy sex life ....

Many women have wrote about it going away with the warm sitz baths and heating pads.. Some have mentioned using some essential oils. Others have said alternative therapy like homeopathy works...

They can go away on their own, but I'm also wondering how long do I wait for them to go away? I'm confused and hoping that someone that has had this before can help me out.

In my case because there is NO infection I don't require surgery at this point. For some people the cyst goes into an infection,,, You'll know that you are infected if it hurts a lot. Mine has no pain really.

pixiestix

warm cloth


you can also try using a warm cloth a couple times a day on top of the bath and keep it pressed against the cyst it softens it up to the point where it becomes soft ans squishy and eventually will burst on its own its a little gross :( but it should go away after that

babicat

thanks pixiestix

I am now officially on day 20 and it has reduced slightly but is still very much there. Very sad I can't have a s*x life and I'm married :( Anyway, sorry just cant talk about this with anyone and I feel very lonely at times.

I am going to try the warm cloth a few times a day on top of the bath. I'm also taking homeopathic medicines which are "supposed" to help, but this is a slower method.

I hope I can solve this and help other women who are struggling with this like I am. I have seen so many forums where people go for surgery and then later have it come back. And they are out of commission for like 1-2 months after surgery. I do not want to go that route.

pegawatt

REALLY WORKS

MY MOTHER HAD THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF.YOU MAKE A PASTE OF EPSON SALTS ON A HOT AS YOU CAN STAND IT CLOTH.APPLY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.GUARANTEE THE RESULTS.

bannethorn

Fellow sufferer..

Babicat...I'm wondering if you have an update?

I had one of these last year and it got so big I had to go have the incision and drainage procedure.

It came back a few months ago and wasn't really painful, but as you said, embarrassing for me to my boyfriend. I really want the thing gone however, now I a) no longer have insurance and b) still remember the horror of that experience. I even tried to poke it with a sterilized needle last week. A few days later, the cyst seems to be getting harder and a little bigger.

Just wondering if yours burst on its own with the warm baths and hot compresses. I'm kind of interested in trying pegawatt's epson salt paste as well. Hmm...wonder if sea salt would work.

babicat

Dear Fellow Sufferer

Update for you:
I am currently taking homeopathy which I started 1 month ago. I will continue to provide updates however, I am sure I am on the right track now. I feel a lot better even though the cyst isn't fully gone. I feel it might burst/pop/drain in the next 1-2 weeks. Just a guess. This might be a good option for you since you said your insurance is an issue, homeopathy isn't as expensive by any means. The good thing with homeopathy is the cysts will never reoccur, it takes some time to go however, you will never ever get it again.

Please dont poke yours with the sterile needle it can cause you a blood infection! Pegawatts hot compresses are a good suggestion, they are very effective. You have to do it often even though it is annoying and time consuming. Also sitz baths are extremely helpful. Take the sitz bath as hot as you can take it without burning yourself. I sometimes fill the bathtub to my hips and sit in that with epsom salt. OTherwise I use that traditional plastic sitz bath that looks like a potty.

I know how much this sucks. I was really depressed last month when I had no one to reach out to who had this problem. I think I'm through the worst so let me know if you need more info about homeopathy etc.

If you have access to a streamroom or sauna use this. It is supposed to help. My gym has a streamroom (i'm yet to use it to be honest). However, I started working out as one girl told me that sweating it out is helpful and can drain the gland.

Make sure to keep the area clean so you don't end up with an abcess (infection).

Dont ever do the marsupialization surgery that moron doctors tell you to do. It can cause some serious effects to your sex life going forward.

babicat

a few more things

When you first take homeopathic medicines for cysts it can cause other cysts to come out in your body too. I know this sounds horrifying but it isn't that scary. I ended up getting one cystic acne type of cyst on my neck, my face broke out in 3 large cystic acne zits (ps I never get pimples on the regular I have really clear skin). I also got a sebaceous cyst in my ear! I was like what in the world is going on?!?! My homeopathic doctor told me that this is normal and the medicines are clearing all the cysts from my body that would of found their way to the surface in however many years. This is such that I never get any cysts going forward.

It is wonderful to do things naturally. Homeopathy let's your body heal itself with a little kick start. It is safe to use on compromised immune systems and old people and even new born babies.

Anyway I'm not cured as of yet, but if it works for me I'm definitely going to let everyone know because so many women can be saved from surgery.