VitalFlow-Bartholin's cyst or bartolinitis and how to treat it properly
by fiona basil (2021-02-26)
What is bartolinitis?
The bartholinitis happens when there is an accumulation of pus and fluid accumulates causing a round swelling called cyst in the Bartholin 's glands, which can grow to the size of an orange or more, although most do not grow more than the size of a golf ball. It happens most often between 20 and 29 years of age, this can be a problem when having sex, but it is not more serious.
You may notice a slightly tender, round, painless bump on one of your labia. Cysts are generally very tender to the touch. In the most severe cases, walking or having sex may be painful. Your doctor will look at the area to see if you have a cyst and to determine whether it is infected or not. A Bartholin cyst forms when the small opening of the gland is blocked, fluid accumulates in the gland and can become infected, it can accumulate for many years before an abscess occurs.
Symptoms
Often the abscess appears quickly over a few days and the affected area becomes very hot and swollen. Any activity that puts pressure on the vulva, as well as walking and sitting, can cause severe pain. Symptoms may include: a tender lump on either side of the vaginal opening, fever, and pain during intercourse
The doctor will perform a pelvic exam, in elderly women, a biopsy is recommended to look for a tumor, although this is very rare. Any drainage of fluid or vaginal discharge will be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Its causes
Bartholin's gland cysts can be caused by an infection, or it is possible that they become infected. Most of the infected cysts called abscesses contain the normal bacteria also called germs that are found on the skin, on the other hand some infected cysts are caused by sexually transmitted bacteria. These types of ailments are cured with the taking of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and analgesics, always under medical supervision, on other occasions the swelling itself causes the skin to break down and the cyst drains by itself.
How can bartolinitis be treated?
Treatment may depend on the size of the cyst, how painful it is, whether it is infected, and the age of the patient. In some cases a small cyst can be treated with warm water, this treatment is called a sitz bath, and it is done several times a day, for 3 or 4 days. This allows the cyst to rupture and drain with little pain or discomfort. In other cases, the doctor may perform a minor procedure in the office, where the doctor makes an incision and places a small tube, called a catheter, into the cyst.
The catheter stays in place for 4 to 6 weeks draining the fluid, then the catheter is easily removed in the doctor's office. Even with the catheter, you can continue your normal activities, although you should discuss sexual activity with your doctor while the catheter is in place.
Another procedure that can also be performed in the doctor's office is to make a small cut in the cyst to drain the fluid, placing stitches on the edge of the cyst to allow a small opening to form, this procedure is known as marsupialization.
Among others, there are less common procedures such as the use of a laser or the surgical removal of the entire gland, both procedures are generally performed in an outpatient operating room as surgery without hospitalization.
The probability of a full recovery is excellent, abscesses can reappear in about 1 in 10 cases. It is important to treat any vaginal infection that is diagnosed at the same time as the abscess.
How can Bartholin's gland cysts be prevented?
There is no way to prevent them, if you think you have a Bartholin gland cyst, tell your doctor immediately so that you can receive early and effective treatment.
The prostate is a male gland located underneath the bladder and is about the size of a chestnut. In this cut section, you can see that part of the urethra is encased within the prostate gland. As a man ages, the prostate typically enlarges in size in a process called BPH, which means that the gland gets larger without becoming cancerous. The enlarged prostate crowds its anatomical neighbors, particularly the urethra, causing it to narrow. The narrowed urethra results in several of the symptoms of BPH. Symptoms may include a slowed or delayed start in urination, the need to urinate frequently during the night, difficulty in emptying the bladder, a strong, sudden urge to urinate, and incontinence. Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, or their symptoms are minor and do not restrict their life style. BPH is a normal physiological process of aging. VitalFlow
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