Can a Bartholin Cyst Return After Draining?

Bartholin’s Cysts can be a common occurrence among women of any age and can be quite frustrating to deal with. Often, many women get these pesky cysts drained, which can provide some relief. However, it may cross your mind, especially if you have dealt with cysts of this nature before: can a Bartholin Cyst return after it has been drained by a doctor?

What is a Bartholin’s Cyst?

A Bartholin’s Cyst is a small, almost pea-sized cyst that forms right inside the opening of the vagina, where the Bartholin’s Glands are located. These glands help to provide moisture to your vagina. The glands are attached to tubes, which carry the fluid to the rest of your vagina. However, when these tubes become inflamed and blocked, they can form what are called Bartholin’s Cysts. These small cysts are often the small size of a pea and can be hard lumps, either painful or not painful. They can block fluid, causing dryness, irritation, and in severe cases, even fevers and infection.

How Are Bartholin’s Cysts Treated?

Many times, in cases where a Bartholin’s Cyst isn’t causing too much in terms of problems, there is a possibility that these cysts will not need treatment. This is especially true if you are under the age of 40 and the cysts aren’t causing you any problems. In some cases, a simple sitz bath can help the cysts disappear on their own without any medical intervention.

However, if you are feeling pain, discomfort, or vaginal dryness, getting treatment for your Bartholin’s Cysts can play an essential role in your recovery. 

The most common treatment for Bartholin’s Cysts is surgical drainage. This is done by placing a small catheter into the gland and allowing the fluid inside to drain, giving the patient relief from the cyst.

Can a Bartholin’s Cyst Return After Surgical Drainage?

While a catheter can remain in place for up to six weeks, it is entirely possible for a Bartholin’s Cyst to return after a surgical drainage procedure. In this case, you will need to obtain treatment for the cyst once again.

What is CO2 Laser Treatment for Bartholin’s Cysts?

Another treatment option for Bartholin’s Cysts is a CO2 laser treatment that can vaporize and remove the cyst without doing any harm to the Bartholin’s glands. This procedure can be done in an outpatient setting and doesn’t require any lengthy, painful hospital stays. In fact, recovery from this procedure is quite fast. Also, it can also be more effective than surgical drainage, as fewer women tend to have a recurrence of the cysts with a CO2 laser treatment as per traditional surgical methods.

If you would like to learn more about Bartholin’s Cysts’ treatment options or to schedule an appointment or consultation, call the office of Dr. Ghozland today!