Excision of a Bartholin gland cyst
Removal (excision) of a Bartholin gland cyst is a minor surgical procedure. Because the vulva has an extensive blood supply, removing a Bartholin gland cyst can cause bleeding. This is best treated in a surgical setting.
In a surgery centre, you will be given whatever numbing and calming medication you need for the procedure. If the cyst is painful, your doctor probably will recommend a general anesthetic to put you to sleep.
You do not need to stay overnight at the hospital after an excision.
An excision procedure includes:
- Positioning you on the examination table in the same position used for a pelvic examination or Pap test.
- Cleaning the vulva and vagina with an antiseptic solution.
- Injecting a numbing medication (local anesthetic) in the vulva area.
- Making a small cut (incision) into the cyst.
- Draining the fluid out of the cyst.
- Removing the entire cyst sac, which is the membrane that contains the cyst.
In rare cases, the entire Bartholin gland and duct are removed. This is often recommended for post-menopausal women with Bartholin gland problems because of the risk of cancer, which increases with age. However, simply draining a Bartholin cyst and testing the cyst tissue for cancer is also a reasonable first-time treatment.
To lower your risk of infection, do not have sexual intercourse until the area is completely healed. This can take several weeks.
| Author: | Carrie Henley Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: April 16, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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