Questionim about 30 weeks along and about a week or two ago i noticed a small bump on my right labia at first there were no problems except for a little discomfort here and there. But nothing to bad then as the days went by i notice it had got bigger after my partner and i would finish having sex. So i called my doctor and ask what should i do i was told to soke in a bath and come in the next day so that my OB could what was going on. when i went in the docter told me that i have a cyst. And by this time the lump was to size of a golf ball. so she told that the only thing to do was to drain it. so i lied back and she gave me some novacane to numb it(which really burned) and then she lanced it twice and nothing came out but blood. the blood was clean looking too it was bright red. and sent me home with some antibotics and pain killers to stop the pain well a day later i was in horrible horrible pain and couldnt get out of the bath tube because that was the only place that i wasnt in pain in. then later that i night i was wipeing my vaginal area off with a warm damp wash cloth and the started to bleed. At first it wasnt that mush then it started to gush out blood. And the blood wasnt bright red like when the doctor cut into it, No it was dark dirty blood like period blood and the smell was abosolutely horrible. Now that all the blood is out the swelling is gone. Now my question is why was there blood ? I thought it would puss like a pimple. and my other question is will it come back and if it does should i have the same thing done? what causes the cyst to inflame right there and what can i do to avoid getting another one?
thanks
Annie
AnswerHi Annie :)
What you experiencing is not uncommon at all. However, from what you tell me, I dont think its a cyst. I beleive, its a Bartholins, Absess.
Around the opening of the vagina, we have glands called Bartholins glands. What happens, is like any pore in the body, if it becomes blocked, it has the potential to fester. And this is exactly what happened in your case.
Bartholins cysts, generally are not painful at all. Many women, dont even know they have them. But the fact that you complained of discomfort, early one, leads to me beleive that an infection was festering that was forming into an abcess.
The procedure that you doctor conducted, is routine for this condition, it usually proves releif, and immediately takes the swelling down.
However, yours festered after the procedure, and became extremely aggravated. The pain you complain of, is classic symtoms of an absess.
Warmth, draws infection to the surface. You said that you sat in the bath for a period of time. Most likely the heat drew the infection out, causing that aweful, putrid smell that you talked about. Infection, especially in Absess's has a very, very bad smell.
Most likely when you doctor treated it, the infection was still deep rooted, and all she was able to expell was blood. I think after the doctor manipulated it, it became extremely angry, your sit baths, drew the infection out, as well as old blood. Dark, blood indicates old blood, but also, the infection could have been mixed within the blood as well, as to why you didnt recognize "pus" in its usual form. But without a doubt, it was there ..the smell indicates that conclusively. Also, blood always goes to infected area's, or area's inflicted with trama. Its the bodies way, of transporting antiboides to fight infection, so thats why there is blood in that area.
Dont be surprised, if the area fills up again before its said and done. If this happens, dont worry. Its just the infection coming to surface. You are on antibiotics, so that will also help fight the infection.
Theres really nothing you can do, to prevent this. You could be the cleanest person on the planet, constantly wiping and cleaning that area, and you could still get it. Its just one of those things. However, chances likely that once this is healed, you wont get another one again.
Now if it does fill up again, and you are in excrutiating pain, you should have it lanced again. However, what you could do, is that if you notice that it is filling up again, take an old teabag, and nuke it for about 30 seconds. Apply it over the area, and repeat a few times when the teabag cools off. This again, will draw infection out ..and might save you the trip to the doctor and getting it lanced. Hot wash clothes, applied over the area, will work as well.
Here's a link with more information for you. If you have any more questions, please dont hesitate to write back :)
http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/Military_OBGYN/Textbook/Vulva/Bartholin.h...
-Kristy
