Patient's question:
Recently, there is a lump inside the left vagina and a small swelling on the left external genitalia, which is not significant. At times, it may cause mild swelling, pain, and a stinging sensation.Doctor's answer:
Your condition may be caused by infections, inflammation, or allergies due to urethral discharge irritation. Bartholin's cyst is also known as a vestibular gland cyst. The vestibular glands are about the size of a peanut, located on both sides of the vaginal opening, behind the vestibular bulbs, and covered by the bulbocavernosus muscles. Each gland has a very thin duct, only 1.5 to 2 centimeters long, which opens into the vaginal vestibule. During sexual arousal, they secrete a light yellow alkaline mucus to moisten the vaginal opening.Under normal circumstances, the vestibular glands are invisible and cannot be felt. However, if they become inflamed due to infection, form scars after trauma, or if the duct opening becomes blocked; or if there is perineal laceration during childbirth; or if the duct is damaged during a perineal episiotomy and then sealed after suture, the secretions cannot be expelled and accumulate inside, causing the gland to swell and form a cyst. As the cyst grows, it protrudes outward, making it visible and palpable—this is what constitutes a Bartholin's cyst.