Patient's question:
Seven months pregnant, a large lump has grown on the right labia, causing pain. It appears to have an abscess on the surface, and when touched, it feels hard inside. It has already affected normal life, and even walking is very painful! What is going on with this?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the lump in the labia is mostly a benign sebaceous cyst (also known as bartholin's gland cyst), formed due to blocked ducts. It is generally the size of a pea or a bean, but it can also grow as large as 5 cm. Severe cases may lead to infection and form an abscess, and treatment can involve surgical removal. The greater vestibular glands are located at the lower ends of the labia majora. If the ducts become blocked, the secretions accumulate, which can cause a vestibular gland cyst.Recommendation: Sometimes, it may also be caused by thick mucus in the gland lumen or congenital duct narrowing, leading to poor drainage and secondary infection, which can form an abscess. Vestibular gland cysts are mostly unilateral, with varying sizes, and can persist for years without growing. If the cyst is small and there is no infection, the patient may have no symptoms and it is often accidentally discovered during a gynecological examination. This type may not require treatment. However, if the cyst is large, the patient may experience a sense of fullness or discomfort in the external genitalia during intercourse and should seek medical attention.