Bartholin's cyst treatment (Treatment of Bartholin's cyst or abscess)
Treatment to drain or keep open a fluid- or pus-filled swelling near the vaginal opening, usually with a small drainage procedure under local or general anaesthetic.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- A Bartholin's cyst is a blocked gland near the vaginal opening; if it gets infected it becomes a painful abscess that usually needs draining.
- Simply bursting or draining it often is not enough — keeping the opening open (with a Word catheter or marsupialisation) reduces the chance it refills.
- Both main treatments work well and have similar recurrence rates (roughly 1 in 10 within a year); neither guarantees it will never come back.
- In older women or if the lump looks or feels unusual, a sample or biopsy is taken, because rare gland cancers can look like a cyst.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.
Relieves the pain and pressure of an abscess, usually within a day or two
A small, usually not painful cyst that does not need a procedure — conservative care and review may be all that is needed.
The pain and pressure of an abscess usually ease once it is drained. Expect soreness, some swelling and a little discharge or bleeding. Warm baths and...
Clear advice on warm baths, pain relief and keeping the area clean.
The pain and pressure of an abscess usually ease once it is drained. Expect soreness, some swelling and a little...
The area becomes less sore and you can usually return to normal activity. Keep it clean as advised, and avoid sex...
If you have a Word catheter, it stays in to keep the opening open while it heals, then is removed in clinic or...
Most people heal fully. Some cysts or abscesses come back later and may need further treatment.
What is treatment for a Bartholin's cyst?
The Bartholin's glands sit just inside the vaginal opening, one on each side, and make fluid that keeps the area moist. If the tiny duct draining a gland gets blocked, fluid builds up and forms a soft swelling called a Bartholin's cyst. If it becomes infected, it fills with pus and becomes a painful, hot, red Bartholin's abscess.
A small cyst that is not causing problems often needs no treatment, or just warm baths. A cyst that is large, uncomfortable or keeps coming back, and especially an abscess, usually needs a procedure to drain it and to keep the opening open so it does not simply seal over and refill.
The two main procedures are a Word catheter — a small balloon-tipped tube placed into the drained cavity to keep it open while it heals — and marsupialisation, a small operation that stitches the edges of the opened cyst back to keep a permanent drainage channel. Both work well and have broadly similar chances of the problem coming back. In older women, or if anything looks unusual, a sample or biopsy may also be taken, as rare gland cancers can mimic a cyst.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Word catheter compared with marsupialisation
| Point | Word catheter | Marsupialisation |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is done | Often in clinic under local anaesthetic | Often in theatre, frequently under general anaesthetic |
| Pain afterwards | Usually less in the first day | Can be a little more sore at first |
| Catheter to manage | Yes — a small tube stays in for a few weeks | No tube; dissolvable stitches instead |
| Chance it comes back | Broadly similar (around 1 in 10 in a year) | Broadly similar (around 1 in 10 in a year) |
Studies show the two methods work about as well as each other, with similar recurrence at one year. The choice often comes down to what is practical, your preference, and whether the cyst is straightforward or complex.
Preparing for your procedure
- Tell the team how long the swelling has been there, whether it is painful, and whether it has happened before.
- Mention any high temperature, spreading redness or feeling generally unwell, which point to infection.
- List your medicines, especially blood thinners, and any allergies.
- Ask which method is planned for you and whether it will be under local or general anaesthetic.
- If a general anaesthetic is planned, follow fasting instructions and arrange a lift home.
- Plan loose clothing and a few days of lighter activity, as the area will be sore.
- Ask whether a sample or biopsy will be taken, especially if you are over about 40.
What happens
For a Word catheter, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic, a small cut is made into the cyst or abscess to release the fluid or pus, and a tiny balloon-tipped tube is slipped inside. The balloon is gently inflated so the tube stays put, and it is left in for a few weeks while a permanent drainage channel forms.
For marsupialisation, you are often asleep under general anaesthetic. The surgeon opens the cyst, drains it, and stitches the edges of the opening back with dissolvable stitches so it cannot simply seal over and refill.
In both cases, if there is pus it may be sent to the laboratory, and a sample or biopsy of the gland may be taken if needed. The procedures are short, and most people go home the same day with advice on baths, pain relief and what to expect.
Is this procedure right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- A small, usually not painful cyst that does not need a procedure — conservative care and review may be all that is needed.
- Active spreading infection or feeling very unwell, which may need urgent assessment and antibiotics alongside drainage.
- Expecting any single procedure to guarantee it will never come back.
- A swelling that looks unusual being treated as a simple cyst without a sample, especially in older women.
Delay or rearrange if…
- There is spreading infection or you feel generally unwell and need urgent assessment first.
- You are pregnant — treatment is still possible but the approach may be adjusted, so tell the team.
- You take blood thinners that need managing before a procedure.
- You cannot arrange care for a Word catheter or attend to have it removed.
Alternatives to discuss
- Conservative care with warm baths and pain relief for a small, settled cyst.
- Antibiotics alongside drainage if there is spreading infection.
- Marsupialisation instead of a Word catheter, or the other way round, depending on what suits.
- Removal of the whole gland for repeated recurrences.
- Watchful waiting with review if the cyst is small and not troublesome.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Comfort, sedation or contrast choices
If local anaesthetic, sedation, contrast or pain relief is used, ask what is planned, why, and what it means afterwards.
Benefits
- Relieves the pain and pressure of an abscess, usually within a day or two
- Drains infection and helps it heal
- Keeping the opening open reduces the chance the cyst refills
- Allows a sample to be checked if anything looks unusual
- Lets you get back to normal activities once it has settled
Risks & complications
- Soreness, swelling and bruising around the area for several days
- Some discharge or light bleeding as it drains and heals
- A Word catheter feeling uncomfortable, or occasionally falling out early
- The cyst or abscess coming back at some point
- Infection of the wound, or infection not fully settling, needing antibiotics
- Bleeding that needs attention
- Scar tissue or a small change in the shape of the area
- Needing a further or different procedure if it recurs
- Heavier bleeding, particularly after removing the whole gland
- Pain during sex afterwards
- A rare gland cancer found on the sample, needing specialist treatment
- Problems related to a general anaesthetic
The two things to keep in mind are recurrence and the small chance of something unusual. These cysts and abscesses can come back even after good treatment, and no method guarantees they will not. Separately, although the vast majority are benign, a rare gland cancer can look like a Bartholin's cyst, which is why a sample or biopsy is advised in older women or if the swelling looks or feels unusual. Ask your clinician what is planned for you and what to do if it returns.
Published figures to discuss
Recurrence and complication rates depend on the method, whether it was a cyst or an abscess, and individual factors. The figures below come from trials and reviews comparing the main treatments and should be taken as broad guides rather than precise personal predictions.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurrence within 12 months (Word catheter) | Around 8–12% | Broadly similar to marsupialisation; no method removes the chance of recurrence. | WoMan trial — Word catheter vs marsupialisation (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Recurrence within 12 months (marsupialisation) | Around 9–12% | Comparable to a Word catheter in trials and reviews. | WoMan trial — Word catheter vs marsupialisation (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPublished figure |
| Bartholin gland cancer in a new lump after age 40 | Rare | Rare but important; new, firm, irregular or persistent Bartholin-area lumps in older patients may need biopsy or excision. | WoMan trial — Word catheter vs marsupialisation (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
| Pain, scarring or discomfort with sex after treatment | Uncommon | Risk is higher after repeated infections or larger procedures; persistent pain should be reviewed. | WoMan trial — Word catheter vs marsupialisation (PubMed)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSource-linked context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
Recovery is usually quick. The pain of an abscess often eases within a day or two of draining it, and the area settles over one to two weeks, though a Word catheter stays in for a few weeks.
- Soreness, swelling and bruising for several days
- Some discharge or light bleeding as it drains and heals
- A Word catheter feeling a little uncomfortable while it is in
- Tenderness with sitting or walking that eases over a week or two
Aftercare
- Take warm baths (sitting in warm water) as advised to ease soreness and help drainage.
- Use simple pain relief such as paracetamol for discomfort.
- Keep the area clean and dry, and change pads regularly while there is discharge.
- If you have a Word catheter, follow advice on caring for it and keeping it in place.
- Avoid sex until the area is comfortable and any catheter has been removed.
- Finish any prescribed antibiotics.
- Go back if pain worsens, you develop a fever, or the swelling returns.
- Simple pain relief at home
- Loose, comfortable clothing and spare pads
- A plan for warm baths
- A lift home if you are having a general anaesthetic
- Any prescribed antibiotics collected
- The clinic's contact number for problems
- A note of when a Word catheter will be removed or reviewed
Scars and how they heal
The cut used to drain a Bartholin's cyst is small and in a naturally hidden area, so any scar is usually minor and not noticeable. After marsupialisation, the stitched opening heals as a small permanent drainage channel rather than an obvious scar. Removing the whole gland is a larger procedure and can leave more scarring and a small change in the shape of the area; your surgeon should explain this if excision is planned.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Spreading redness, increasing swelling or worsening pain after treatment
- A high temperature, shivering or feeling generally unwell (possible spreading infection)
- Heavy or persistent bleeding from the area
- Foul-smelling discharge or pus building up again
- A Word catheter falling out very early with the swelling returning
- Severe pain not controlled by simple pain relief
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
Draining a Bartholin's abscess usually brings quick relief, and keeping the opening open gives the best chance that it heals without refilling. Even so, these cysts and abscesses can return, so a good outcome is honest about that possibility rather than promising a permanent cure. Where a sample was taken, you should be told the result, particularly to confirm it was benign.
Many people are treated once and have no further trouble. However, recurrence is common enough — roughly 1 in 10 within a year with the main methods — that it is treated as a realistic possibility rather than a failure. If a cyst or abscess keeps coming back, removing the whole gland may be considered.
Related tests, treatments or support
Treatment is sometimes combined with antibiotics if infection is spreading, and with taking a swab or a biopsy of the gland where needed. If there are other vulval symptoms or skin changes, a vulval assessment may be arranged at the same time. Removing the gland is usually reserved for repeated recurrences rather than a first treatment.
Follow-up & long-term care
If you have a Word catheter, you are usually reviewed to have it removed or to check healing after a few weeks. Otherwise, routine follow-up is often not needed once it has healed, but you should be told the result of any sample and what to do if the swelling returns. Repeated recurrences may prompt referral for further treatment.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- If a cyst or abscess comes back, a repeat drainage, the alternative procedure, or eventually gland removal may be needed.
- A Word catheter occasionally falls out early and may need replacing.
- Persistent or unusual swelling may prompt a biopsy or referral to exclude rare cancer.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- Clear advice on warm baths, pain relief and keeping the area clean.
- Instructions on caring for a Word catheter and a plan for removing it.
- The result of any swab or biopsy fed back to you.
- Clear signs of infection to watch for and a contact route if they occur.
- A plan for what to do if the cyst or abscess comes back.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- The method used (Word catheter, marsupialisation or gland removal)
- Whether it is done in clinic under local anaesthetic or in theatre under general anaesthetic
- Anaesthetist and theatre or facility fees where a general anaesthetic is used
- Laboratory fees if pus is cultured or a biopsy is analysed
- Antibiotics if infection is present
- Follow-up to remove a catheter or check healing, and management of any recurrence
- The operator's fee and which method is included
- Whether it is under local or general anaesthetic, and any anaesthetist and facility fees
- Laboratory fees for any swab or biopsy
- Follow-up to remove a Word catheter or check healing
- Whether antibiotics and dressings are included
- What happens, and what it costs, if the cyst or abscess comes back
On the NHS? Bartholin's cysts and abscesses are treated on the NHS, often as an emergency when an abscess is painful and infected; private treatment is used mainly for quicker access or choice of timing.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- Simply lancing the abscess without keeping the opening open, so it quickly refills.
- Not taking a sample in an older woman or when the swelling looks unusual.
- Not explaining the realistic chance of recurrence.
- No clear plan for removing a Word catheter or for what to do if symptoms return.
- Using antibiotics alone for an abscess that actually needs draining.
Marketing red flags
- Promising a permanent cure with no chance of recurrence.
- Recommending gland removal as a first treatment without trying simpler options.
- Not mentioning that a sample may be needed to exclude rare cancer.
- No aftercare advice for a Word catheter.
- Treating it as trivial without examining or explaining the options.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.
- Which treatment do you recommend for me — a Word catheter or marsupialisation — and why?
- Will it be under local or general anaesthetic?
- Will you take a sample or biopsy, especially given my age?
- What is the chance it will come back, and what would we do if it does?
- How should I care for the area, and how long until I can have sex again?
- What signs of infection should make me come back?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the specialist who carries out my procedure, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this procedure not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Will a Bartholin's cyst come back after treatment?
Do I really need a procedure, or will it go away on its own?
Is the treatment painful?
Could it be cancer?
Will it affect sex?
Can I be treated on the NHS?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: NHS — Bartholin's cyst WoMan trial — Word catheter vs marsupialisation (PubMed) Word catheter vs marsupialisation: systematic review and meta-analysis (PubMed) NHS Scotland Right Decisions — Management of Bartholin's cyst and abscess
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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