Bartholin’s cyst is a fluid filled sac that develops in the Bartholin’s glands. The Bartholin’s glands are located on each side of the opening of the vagina. These glands are responsible for secreting fluid that provides lubrication for the vagina. The Bartholin’s glands can sometimes become blocked, which causes fluid to get backed up into the glands. As a result, a cyst forms called a Bartholin’s cyst. A Bartholin’s cyst is mostly painless but can swell. In some cases, a Bartholin’s cyst can become infected if bacteria gets trapped in the cyst. If a Bartholin’s cyst becomes infected, pus will usually develop which surrounds the cyst in which the tissue is inflamed. About two percent of women of childbearing age will have Bartholin's cyst.

Some people may have a Bartholin’s cyst that is small and does not get infected. In this case, you may not even know you have it. However, it can also grow and often a person feels a mass of lump near the opening of the vagina. While a Bartholin’s cyst is usually painless, it can feel quite tender which can be uncomfortable. A Bartholin's cyst usually occurs on only one side of the vaginal opening.

If a Bartholin’s cyst becomes infected, it usually happens within a few days. Once the cyst becomes infected, you may experience signs and symptoms such as a tender, painful lump near the vaginal opening, discomfort while walking or sitting, pain during intercourse, or fever.

In order to diagnose a Bartholin's cyst, your healthcare provider may do any of the following: ask questions about and assess your medical history, perform a pelvic exam, take a sample of secretions from your vagina or cervix to test for a sexually transmitted infection, or recommend a biopsy to check for cancerous cells if you're postmenopausal or over 40.

Women who develop a Bartholin's cyst may not always need treatment, especially if the cyst causes no signs or symptoms. If treatment is needed, the type of treatment depends on the size of the cyst, how uncomfortable it is, and whether it is infected. Treatment options for a Bartholin’s cyst may include sitz baths, surgical drainage, antibiotics, or marsupialization.