To ask if anyone has had a Bartholin cyst?

[espressodrinker]

Just that really. I think I have one and it's pretty big...I can feel it underneath my skin. How did you deal with it?

[loutypips]

Lots of warm salt baths! It's bloody painful. If you start to feel ill, or get a temp then speak to your doctor as you may need antibiotics if it's a bad infection.

[Disabrie22]

I did - warm compresses got rid of it

[Laaalaaaa]

I’ve had what felt like incredibly large spots in that area - the relief when popped is incredible.

[Proudboomer]

I had a massive one. I took a hot bath and then coated it with magnesium sulphate ( be careful to only put it over the cyst)
And within a day or so it began to drain itself.
Loads of runny pus as mine was about the size of a small egg.

[MitziK]

It's worth a GP appointment to make sure it's a cyst and not an abscess.

They were a very common referral when I worked in Gynae - some resolved themselves after a while, some required a very simple surgery.

Definitely not nice to have, though - lots of cushions/an inflatable swimming ring seemed to be used a lot for those who had it in the most uncomfortable places. And big, soft knickers.

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

I've had one. it was really painful so I kept putting hot compresses and having hot baths.

20 years later, I can still remember the feeling of relief and elation I got when it finally burst

[ChelseaCat]

I did - I was an idiot and didn’t do anything about it until I became septic then needed urgent surgery to have it drained

Get it sorted!

[knittingaddict]

Oh yes, twice.

First one cured with hot salty bath.

Second required an op.

That was years ago and never had one since.

They are the worst pain imaginable.

[DanielRicciardosSmile]

Yes, I've had several. Hot water on a flannel pressed over it works most of the time. Twice I've needed antibiotics. If it's a big one you might be better talking to your GP.

[drspouse]

I've had both a cyst and an abscess. Abscess was one of the worst pains of my life!

[bloodywhitecat]

Mine required surgery as it had become an abscess. I was seven months pregnant at the time, I think the pain from that was worse than labour.

[NoTeaForMe]

I did when I was pregnant years ago. It was horrid. I had two courses of antibiotics which did nothing and it steadily grew and got more and more painful. In the end I had emergency surgery to drain it. By far one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced and I have two children. See a GP.

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

Ah the bollickle.

Nasty buggers they are.

[espressodrinker]

Hi everyone...thanks for replying. The thing is it's not painful really. Now and then I get a dull pain but that's it. Is that normal?

[NoTeaForMe]

No exaggeration mine was excruciating. Although it may have started off as just uncomfortable. I don’t remember.

[Crazycrazylady]

I get them all the time I'm afraid so I now I just hot compress them the night before and lance them with a sterile needle.. might have to jab a few times to get the correct place. but instant relief when they pop followed by yellow pus explosion..

[MrsZola]

My poor SIL had one when she was pregnant and had it removed the day before her wedding! They said it had to be done and that was the only time available. She stayed in overnight and they only let her leave about 2 hours before they were due at the Registery office! She was feeling really grim and a bit embarrassed after my idiot brother announced to everyone what she'd had done!

[Badassmama]

Yep, had to have surgery under GA. Get thee to the antibiotics immediately.

[ALongHardWinter]

I had a massive one about 25 years ago. Omg it was horrendous. I'd just come out of hospital,I'd been there for 2 weeks having just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was in a pretty bad way and very run down,so I think this may have been why I got it. I've thankfully never had one since.
I found that having a hot bath with salt in it,and holding a hot compress on it for several minutes several times a day helped. In the end,it popped when I was sitting on the toilet,having a number 2! (Sorry if that's TMI!) Oh the relief! In all,I had it for 5 days,and I really wouldn't wish it on anyone!

[espressodrinker]

I've had it for about two weeks but no pain or not even uncomfortable?! Obviously I know it's there. I have antibiotics now

[MistyIsland]

Yes lots of salt baths.

I covered mine in magnesium sulphate and it popped the next day, the relief was immense.

I had antibiotics with my next one.

Fingers crossed 🤞 I’ve not had any since the pain was horrific.

[PreggoFeminist86]

Yep, I've had a few. Nasty little fuckers. They seem to be triggered by hormones in my case (had them straight after coming off the pIll, when I was pregnant & again when periods returned after weaning DS).

I treat them with Epsom salt baths/ sitz baths & Magnesium Sulfate, as above. They usually pop themselves within a week or so. If yours doesnt seem to be clearing, call your GP to avoid it becoming an abscess.

With my first ever one, I had a male GP tell me it couldn't be a Bartholin Cyst because 'that's not where the gland is.' We went back & forth, as I was sure it was...since my Sister had surgery for the same thing. He then GOOGLED IT (🙄) & realised I was right.

[fallon92]

I had one in my private parts! I had to get it drained - day surgery. I couldn't sit down at one point!

[Rachie1973]

Bless you, my 16 year old had a huge one when she was pregnant. She had to have a word catheter inserted to drain it. The nurses all piled in the room with the consultant for the op as it’s so unusual a procedure

All done with no anaesthetic as she didn’t want to risk the baby. You have my sympathy.

She got another one when little one was just 3 weeks old, it burst in A and E this time to her horror.

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

Not had any for ages, but I used to get them often - usually they would pop after a hot bath or compress.
Generally not that painful - unless I squeezed them to make them pop before they were ready (TMI?)

One that I tried to disperse in that way an wouldn't go. Eventually went to GP, then a GP/hospital mix up, took ages to get sorted (removed under GA) - it was about 3cm by that stage.
Nearly 20 years on I can still remember walking along seemingly endless hospital corridors to get to the operating theatre, no underwear, if was excruciating.