Removal of cysts and other benign growths in the external genital area is a routine gynaecological procedure. The most common cases we encounter involve a cyst or abscess of the Bartholin's glands, located in the tissue of the labia. These are treated with a straightforward surgical procedure under local anaesthesia in our own procedure room. We use state-of-the-art surgical equipment, and after a short rest at the clinic, you are free to go home the same day.
Under normal circumstances, the Bartholin's glands cannot be felt. Their role is to produce a small amount of fluid that moistens the external genital area through a duct roughly two centimetres long. If this duct becomes blocked, a cyst forms. It may start out small and cause no trouble at all, but it can grow to a size that makes everyday activities uncomfortable, whether that is using the bathroom, being intimate or simply moving around. If the blocked duct also becomes infected, an abscess develops. Unlike a cyst, an abscess contains pus and is usually very tender to the touch, and may come with fever or other signs of infection.
The most common approach is a technique called marsupialization, or external drainage. The doctor makes a small incision in the cyst wall to release its contents, then stitches the inner lining to the surrounding skin using dissolvable sutures. This creates a small opening through which any remaining fluid or pus can drain via a temporary plastic drain.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia as a day case. We also offer inhaled analgesia using Entonox — a mixture of medical nitrous oxide and oxygen — which reduces pain, raises the pain threshold and has a gently calming effect.
Afterwards, you will rest at the clinic for a short while before heading home. We recommend taking it easy for a few days and keeping the area around the drain clean. Your doctor will walk you through everything you need to know, including when to come back for drain removal. If pus was present, antibiotics will likely be prescribed to clear the infection fully.
