Bartholinitis: causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease. Bartholinitis - treatment at home

Bartholinitis is an inflammation of the Bartholin gland at the vestibule of the vagina. In a healthy woman, this gland cannot be felt - it is located under a large layer of fatty tissue. A number of microorganisms, as well as colds, hypothermia, and a state of constant stress can provoke the development of the disease. Treatment of bartholinitis at home must begin at the initial stage of development of the disease; in the future, this will be quite problematic, even with the parallel use of medications.

Salt treatment

Table salt is a product that is found in every home; it is useful in treating inflammation of the Bartholin gland at home, which is just beginning, before purulent discharge appears.

To prepare the solution, you need to take:

200 ml boiling water;
20 g salt.

Stir everything well and soak a cotton pad in salt water. The pad should be worn around the clock, changing it periodically.

Pay attention! The pad is best made from soft fabric that has already been washed several times.

Use of medicinal ointments

Vishnevsky ointment is often used for bartholinitis to speed up the ripening of the abscess. The ointment contains birch tar, which will stimulate blood circulation, that is, the inflammatory process will only intensify. Even a doctor can prescribe this remedy after an examination. The ointment should be applied to a cotton pad and carefully secure everything with an adhesive plaster in the right place. The procedure is best done at night.

Remember. Vishnevsky ointment for bartholinitis will speed up the process of ripening of the abscess, but it is not recommended to open it yourself at home; this should be done by a doctor.

Many people try to treat Bartholin's gland at home using ichthyol ointment. It is based on ichthyol extracted from tree bark. This remedy also increases blood circulation and draws out pus, but its effect is milder than that of Vishnevsky ointment.

Pay attention! Self-treatment of the disease with ichthyol ointment is extremely undesirable; it can provoke suppuration, which can be avoided if other means are used in the early stages.

How to treat an abscess

Treating a Bartholin gland abscess at home requires quite a lot of time, but if you correctly use folk recipes and doctor’s recommendations, the condition can be improved.

Every evening you should make a solution of 1 tbsp. l. potassium manganese 2% and 2 liters of warm water. It must be added to a bath whose water temperature is not higher than 38 degrees. Taking such baths for 20-30 minutes will help relieve pain. The course of treatment depends on the individual course of the disease. On average, experts recommend taking such procedures for 5-7 days.
You should also prepare a chamomile infusion from 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers and 1 cup of boiling water. It must be left for 20 minutes, strained and poured into a basin with 2 liters of warm water. This bath can only be taken in a sitting position and for no longer than 20 minutes. The procedure should be carried out throughout the week before bedtime.
Treatment of Bartholin gland abscess at home can be carried out using effective ointments. After examination, a specialist may prescribe Levomekol. In the morning you should apply a small amount of ointment to a cotton swab, secure everything with an adhesive plaster, and in the evening change the bandage using Vishevsky ointment or ichthyol ointment for a new one. Treatment with such drugs is prescribed only by a doctor.

"Levomekol" is used after opening an abscess to speed up wound healing

Traditional methods of treating cysts

Remember. Treatment of a Bartholin gland cyst at home can only take place at the initial stage of its occurrence. Advanced disease requires surgical intervention.

Experts may recommend local treatment of the cyst using ice. Ice cubes should be placed in a cotton cloth and applied to the site of inflammation for about 40 minutes. The effectiveness of this procedure will be achieved if it is repeated 3 times with breaks of 20 minutes.

You can also take sitz salt baths by preparing a solution of 3 dessert spoons of table salt and 1 liter of water. You can sit in such baths for only 3 minutes, but during the day the procedure is repeated 6 times.

Pay attention! Taking salt baths is allowed only in the first stages of the disease.

Treatment of Bartholin gland cysts at home involves the use of antiseptics for douching and washing. Most often, the doctor prescribes Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt. These drugs disinfect the area affected by infection and relieve inflammation.

Preparation of medicines for internal use

Treatment of bartholinitis with folk remedies is carried out not only with the help of ointments and baths, but also with the use of medicinal herbal decoctions and infusions. Such remedies help cope with the inflammatory process and speed up the healing process. There are several effective recipes.

Recipe No. 1

200 g crushed aloe leaves,
1 glass of red house wine,
400 g honey.

The ingredients should be mixed and simmered over low heat for no more than 5 minutes, then strain. Take the product 3 times a day before meals, 1 tbsp. l. The course of treatment lasts 7–10 days.

Recipe No. 2

Knotweed - 100 g,
nettle - 100 g,
horsetail - 40 g,
piculnik - 50 g,
Icelandic moss - 2 tbsp. l.

All herbs are sold at the pharmacy; they should be mixed (1 tablespoon each), add 400 ml of boiling water, cover and leave for 1-2 hours. The product should be strained and taken a third of a glass before meals. Treatment lasts 5–7 days. Therapy with this remedy should be carried out immediately after the decoction prepared according to recipe No. 1 has ended.

Pay attention! Herbal medicine can cause side effects, so be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medication.

To know exactly how to cure bartholinitis at home and not start the disease, you need to visit a doctor at the first signs of deterioration and complaints in order to choose the most effective remedies. If you treat bartholinitis yourself at home, you can aggravate the course of the disease, and then the process of therapy and recovery of the body will take longer.

The vestibule of the vagina contains a large number of glands for secretion production. It is necessary for comfortable feelings in everyday life, but is especially important during intimate relationships. Inflammation of the glands of the vestibule of the vagina (Bartholin's) is called bartholinitis. At first glance, a simple disease has many pitfalls, which leads to frequent relapses. Which treatment for bartholinitis in women should be chosen? Is surgery always necessary?

Contrary to popular belief, bartholinitis is not only the lot of girls who suffer from sexually transmitted infections or neglect intimate hygiene. Inflammation of the gland can occur even in “neat people” with a combination of unfavorable factors. The frequency of this pathology is about 5%. According to ICD-10, it is classified under code N75.

Anatomy of the gland

The Bartholin gland is located in the lower part of the labia majora. It consists directly of the glandular tissue itself and excretory ducts from 1 cm to 4-5 cm in length. The mouth of the tubules opens in a groove located between the labia minora and the remnants of the hymen. Sometimes the Bartholin gland is surrounded by bundles of muscle fibers. It is small in size - no more than 1 cm in diameter. In a calm state, it is not possible to palpate it; changes are noticeable only when there is inflammation or the formation of a cyst.

The Bartholin gland secretes a viscous, jelly-like secretion, especially a lot when a woman is aroused. A small amount of it is released in a calm state, due to which women do not feel tightness, dryness in the vagina and other unpleasant sensations. By pressing on the gland and duct, you can get a small amount of secretion. There is no need to do this yourself, as it can cause inflammation.

On the surface of the labia minora and majora there are a large number of sebaceous and sweat glands. They are located relatively evenly over the entire surface. Sometimes their inflammation (boils) is confused with bartholinitis. A distinctive feature of the latter is that the process begins at the bottom of the labia majora, while the boil can be located anywhere.

Causes

Inflammation of the Bartholin gland occurs if the outflow of secretions is disrupted due to the active proliferation of microbes inside. An active infection leads to tissue swelling, which further aggravates the mucus discharge. A vicious circle arises.

Pathogenic microorganisms enter the Bartholin gland in several ways:

retrograde current– E. coli, enterococci and other pathogens enter from the rectum; chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas can also provoke bartholinitis, coming from the vagina in the presence of these sexually transmitted infections;
hematogenous - there is an assumption that pathogenic microbes can enter the gland through the bloodstream from other foci, including chronic infection.

Risk factors for inflammation of the Bartholin gland can be identified:

poor hygiene– especially lack of regularity during menstrual periods; blood is the most “pleasant” environment for the active growth and reproduction of bacteria;
microtraumas - can appear with constant irritation, itching, after sexual intercourse;
decreased immunity– bartholinitis can worsen after ARVI, influenza, or after hypothermia;
synthetic underwear– regularly wearing tight and synthetic underwear creates anaerobic conditions with high humidity, which provokes the proliferation of pathogens;
sexually transmitted infections– usually bartholinitis is of a nonspecific nature, but can be caused by Trichomonas, gonococci, chlamydia;
gynecological manipulations – most often exacerbations occur after abortions;
chronic infections – the presence of lesions in the kidneys (pyelonephritis), teeth (caries), proctitis, hemorrhoids.

Bartholinitis can occur even in girls who are not sexually active. It is not always possible to detect the causes of bartholinitis, especially if it is an exacerbation of the chronic form. But when provoking factors are identified, their effect should be minimized, otherwise relapses cannot be avoided.

What happens

Depending on the duration of the process and the presence of exacerbations, the following forms of bartholinitis are distinguished:

acute – with a clear clinical picture;
subacute – when the symptoms are blurred, the complaints are moderate;
chronic relapsing– in the presence of periodic exacerbations of bartholinitis.

Bartholinitis begins with a slight inflammation and can progress significantly in just a few hours. Depending on this, stages are distinguished:

canaliculitis - in this case, the infectious process is limited to the excretory ducts;
infiltration – the gland itself is affected, severe swelling and pain occur, but there is no clear limitation of the focus;
abscess - in this case, a “softening” inside dense tissues is palpated, this is a cavity with pus that is “looking” for a way out.

A separate Bartholin gland cyst is identified, which can also transform into an abscess and have a similar clinical picture if the contents of its cavity become infected. The cyst forms after an episode of acute bartholinitis or as a result of constant relapses. The ducts of the gland are blocked, the contents accumulate, but do not suppurate if there are no pathogenic microorganisms. A painless “ball” is formed in the area of the vaginal vestibule.

Symptoms of bartholinitis in women

The main symptoms of bartholinitis in women include the following:

soreness in the vestibule of the vagina;
fever;
swelling, redness of the labia majora.

The severity of symptoms changes as inflammation worsens.

Canaliculitis. The temperature is normal or subfebrile. The most disturbing thing is the not very sharp pain in the labia majora. Itching and burning are often felt in the area of the vestibule of the vagina due to inflammation and irritation of the tissues with a purulent secretion that is secreted from the tubules.
Infiltration. It is called a “false abscess.” The clinical picture is in many ways similar to true tissue abscessation; the differences are literally in the smallest details, which can only be determined by a specialist. The body temperature rises, sometimes up to 39-40 °C, the woman notes severe chills, weakness, and headaches. The area of the labia majora with the inflamed gland is sharply painful when touched, and it is painful to move. Severe swelling of the tissues, often the entrance to the vagina is completely blocked and vaginal examination is impossible. The labia majora is bright red, shiny due to the stretched tissue, and hot when touched. Enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area.
Abscess formation. All symptoms of inflammation characteristic of infiltration are clearly expressed. When palpating the labia majora, dense tissue is identified in the area of inflammation, and softening is detected in one of the areas - this is an already formed cavity with pus. A woman may notice a “pulsation” in this place. Enlarged inguinal lymph nodes.

Signs of inflammation of the Bartholin gland in chronic conditions are less pronounced. Typically, relapse is accompanied by mild pain, redness and slight swelling. After conservative measures, symptoms decrease or disappear altogether. But after some time they appear again, for example, after ARVI, hypothermia.

If during pregnancy

Bartholinitis occurs during pregnancy. This may be the first episode of the disease or a relapse of the chronic form. The tactics for managing a woman largely depend on the clinical picture. If possible, conservative therapy should be followed.

Bartholinitis is dangerous during pregnancy in the following ways:

intrauterine infection of the baby– this provokes a threat, interruption, leakage of amniotic fluid, premature birth;
infectious complications after childbirth– if a woman gives birth through the natural birth canal, the likelihood of purulent conjunctivitis and suppuration of the baby’s umbilical wound increases; For the mother, the risks of poor suture healing increase.

Timely treatment with antibacterial drugs and, if necessary, surgical treatment can reduce the complications of bartholinitis during pregnancy to a minimum.

Diagnostics

Bartholinitis may mask other problems of the external genitalia in the intimate area (see table). Usually the diagnosis is established based on examination, as well as during surgical treatment, since the condition is mostly acute and requires immediate treatment, even if it is in the initial stage.

Table - How not to confuse bartholinitis and other diseases

Pathology	Peculiarities
Bartholin gland cyst and abscess	- The woman notes that the “ball” has existed for a long time and is not worried; - during inflammation, a round, painful formation is determined, movable
Gartner's cyst	- Formed from the rudiments of embryonic tissue; - located more often in the vaginal area rather than the vestibule; - if there is no inflammation, it does not hurt, does not bother
Furuncle, carbuncle	- Inflammation of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland; - a boil is not accompanied by a high temperature, a carbuncle may be accompanied by a fever; - the pain is tolerable; - can be located in any part of the labia – above, below
Bartholin gland cancer	- Develops in women after 40 years; - usually occurs with minimal symptoms or unnoticed; - the tumor is dense, heterogeneous, painless, inactive
Tuberculosis of the pelvic bones when the contents break out	- It is extremely rare; - X-ray examination reveals bone destruction

How to treat

Until an abscess forms, treatment is only conservative, aimed at reducing inflammation. When the infectious process progresses and a clear symptom of “fluctuation” (softening) appears, one of the surgical options is performed.

If you ignore the problem and engage in self-medication, including folk remedies, the risk of chronicity of the process, the formation of many cavities and cysts in the gland, and, in case of purulent inflammation, fistulas, increases. These are special channels that connect two cavities, for example, a cyst and a vagina.

Conservative therapy

Treatment without surgery consists of using various compresses and baths to reduce inflammation. The following procedures will help relieve inflammation of the Bartholin gland and associated symptoms:

baths with, ;
lotions and baths with hypertonic salt solution;
applying a cold compress;
use of Vishnevsky ointment, Levomekol.

In addition, physiotherapy can be used. For example, magnetic therapy on the labia area, UHF. Hirudotherapy (treatment with leeches) is used during the “cold” period in chronic bartholinitis to prevent relapses or a few days after opening the abscess to speed up healing.

The main treatment includes the following drugs.

Antibiotics. They are selected taking into account the culture of vaginal contents or based on the results of culture of pus from an abscess. If this is not possible, drugs are prescribed empirically. The most commonly used are Metronidazole, cephalosporins (Cefazolin, Cefotaxime), macrolides (Azithromycin), penicillins (Amoxiclav), fluoroquinolones (Ciprofloxacin). The duration and dose are determined by the doctor individually.
Painkillers. To reduce pain and fever, aspirin, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, No-spa are used.

With concomitant inflammation in the vagina, suppositories can be prescribed, including for candidal colpitis, which can develop during antibacterial treatment.

Conservative treatment of bartholinitis at home should only be done on the recommendation of a doctor, followed by follow-up appointments and examinations. Oral contraceptives may be prescribed to prevent relapse. The point of this treatment is that, against the background of tablets, the intensity of secretion formation and the activity of the gland itself decreases. The result is a long-term remission.

Operation options

For the treatment of Bartholin gland abscess or recurrent bartholinitis, the following methods exist:

opening and drainage;
removal of the gland completely;
Ward's catheter surgery.

Opening of suppuration

This is a standard and fairly common method of surgical treatment, but it has many disadvantages. The main one is that relapse will occur soon in 99% of cases. During the operation the following is carried out:

the skin over the abscess is incised;
purulent contents are removed;
the cavity is washed with antiseptics;
Rubber conductors are installed to drain the contents.

The operation is performed under local anesthesia or intravenous anesthesia. A laser may be used. Its duration is no more than 10-15 minutes. It can be performed on an outpatient basis, requiring dressings twice a day for two weeks. The entire rehabilitation period is about a month, during which you should abstain from sexual activity.

Surgical removal

This treatment method is used in the “cold” period of chronic bartholinitis, when there is no acute inflammation. In this case, the gland is removed from the side where the disease relapses, while the other remains untouched.

A clear advantage of the operation is that repeated episodes of the disease are impossible. The disadvantages of the method are as follows.

Complex operation. The Bartholin gland has a good blood supply and is surrounded by venous plexuses, resulting in a high risk of bleeding. The duration of gland removal is about one to two hours under general (endotracheal anesthesia) or local (spinal anesthesia) anesthesia. In the postoperative period, large hematomas may form, which must be additionally drained.
Ugly seams. Ligatures are applied externally and internally, and sometimes they can change the appearance of the genitals.
Iron is lost. Due to the fact that the Bartholin gland is completely removed, a woman may subsequently experience dryness during sexual intercourse. However, many who have undergone surgery claim that the remaining gland copes with its function and such problems do not arise.
Hospitalization required. This requires hospital treatment lasting two to three days.

Sometimes, after complete removal of the gland, women report pain in the area of the operation during sexual intercourse and physical activity.

Ward's catheter

This is the most promising and low-traumatic method of treating not only acute bartholinitis, but also gland cysts. The essence of the operation is as follows:

the abscess is opened– Bartholin gland on the labia;
the pus is removed and the cavity is washed with antiseptics;
Ward's catheter is installed– a ball is inflated at the end of it, which helps to fix it;
the catheter is removed- in a month and a half.

Relapses after such interventions occur in no more than 10% of cases (compared to 99% with a conventional autopsy). The mechanism of action is that while the catheter is in the cavity of the former abscess, a new channel is formed for the outflow of secretions. The gland is intact, its function is not impaired. The operation is performed under intravenous anesthesia, lasts no more than 20 minutes, and can be performed in a day hospital with a stay of no more than two hours.

A similar effect develops when using Jacobi rings or piercings. In this case, it is important to choose the correct diameter for the product so that the newly formed duct is not too small.

5 frequently asked questions

Considering that bartholinitis is a common disease, the process of diagnosis and treatment is always accompanied by many questions. The following five are the most relevant.

When can you resume sexual intercourse?. Intimate relationships should be continued no earlier than a month after any surgical treatment. In case of relapse of the chronic form and successful conservative treatment, sexual intercourse is permitted after all symptoms disappear.
How is treatment different during pregnancy?. The range of drugs is chosen taking into account the safety for the baby.
What to do if you suspect bartholinitis. You must consult a doctor immediately. As a last resort, start taking antibiotics, but if there is no improvement, immediately seek medical help.
What to do if the abscess has opened. Independent breakthrough of suppuration without proper treatment will lead to a rapid relapse. Therefore, you should consult a doctor, despite some improvement in your condition.
Does removing the gland affect pregnancy?. Iron does not affect the likelihood of conception. The consequences can only affect the quality of a woman’s intimate relationships.

Is it possible to avoid illness?

Prevention of inflammation of the Bartholin gland is as follows:

using condoms;
wearing underwear made from natural fabrics;
regular hygiene using baby soap;
timely treatment of inflammatory processes in the vagina.

Self-treatment of bartholinitis, even if the abscess breaks or the symptoms decrease, will lead to a quick relapse. You can look on the Internet in a photo to see what the Bertholet gland looks like and where it is located. Removal of the Bartholin gland is an effective treatment, but has many disadvantages. The optimal treatment is the installation of a Ward catheter or its analogues. This is a low-traumatic operation that is performed on an outpatient basis and has the lowest risk of relapse.

Pathology refers to infectious diseases and its development is due to contact with the vaginal mucosa and active reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms such as streptococci, gonococci, staphylococci, etc.

Popular recipes

Bartholinitis has three stages of development, and it often turns out that a woman begins to suspect that she has this disease already when an abscess or purulent sac has formed. In this case, the Bartholin cyst requires surgical intervention, which involves excision of the formation.

However, most patients do not want to undergo this medical procedure and try to cope with the disease on their own at home. Also, the reason for such self-medication may be an illness that has taken you by surprise. For example, inflammation manifested itself acutely on the weekend, and before the initial visit to the doctor, you need to somehow cope with the pain.

The fight against bartholinitis with folk remedies has its own strict rules that must be followed, namely:

Before starting each manipulation, wash your hands thoroughly;
all items required for procedures should be treated, for example, with Mirastin;
use only a sterile bandage;
in case of spontaneous opening of the cyst, treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide and rinse it with a saline solution;
If possible, visit a doctor, since with bartholinitis it is important to drink.

Treatment of this disease using traditional medicine has many recipes. Let's look at some of them in more detail.

Salt

Regular table salt is used for medical purposes to prepare hypertonic and saline solutions. In the latter case, its concentration should be 0.9%. This solution is similar in properties to blood plasma, so it is used for internal administration through a vein. It is also excellent for diluting certain medications.

To treat bartholinitis, the saline solution should have a 10% concentration. It effectively eliminates swelling by drawing out excess fluid from the tissues.

Therapy for bartholinitis with a hypertonic solution consists of daily lotions. To prepare the mixture, you need to dilute 20 grams of ordinary kitchen salt in 200 ml of boiled water (cooled). Compresses are made by applying a sterile bandage soaked in a solution to the sore spot. It is best to do this in the form of a bandage and wear it throughout the day, periodically soaking it again in a saline solution.

Treatment of bartholinitis with salt will bring a positive effect only at the early stage of the disease. If there is an abscess or suppuration, sodium chloride will be absolutely useless.

Baths and lotions

How to treat bartholinitis at home without using saline solution? Mild forms of the inflammatory process in the Bartholin glands can be treated in one week using alternative therapy. To do this, you need to resort to the use of herbal lotions and baths.

The most effective herbs for medicinal baths are the following:

chamomile;
calendula;
St. John's wort.

If desired, you can add a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a little kitchen salt to the decoction prepared from these ingredients. Take a bath for about 20 minutes a day in warm water (no more than 38 degrees).

Also effective against untreated bartholinitis will be the use of decoctions of yarrow, nettle and blackberry leaves.

For the lotion procedure, a mixture of chamomile flowers, salt and plantain is used. To improve the effect, it is recommended to add walnut leaves and sweet clover. Cook the ingredients for no longer than 15 minutes. Start lotions only after the broth has cooled to room temperature.

For oral administration

In addition to external treatment, therapy for bartholinitis at home also includes the use of decoctions orally. This helps to quickly cope with the inflammatory process and prevent further development of the disease.

Here are some folk recipes:

Mix 200 grams of fresh aloe leaves with a glass of red homemade wine and 400 g of honey. After this, boil the mixture for about five minutes, strain and consume a tablespoon at least three times a day, 1 hour before meals.
Take equal parts of nettle and knotweed (about 100 g each), stir in 40 g of horsetail, 50 g of pikulnik and up to two tablespoons of Icelandic moss (all this can be bought at the pharmacy). Afterwards, pour 400 ml of boiling water over the herbs and let it brew. Strain and drink 1/3 cup after drinking the previous decoction.

Ointments

Often women who are trying to get rid of bartholinitis on their own resort to using various ointments. But not all ointments for this disease are useful and safe.

To effectively combat the inflammatory process, it is best to use antibacterial ointments containing antibiotics. Only these kinds of drugs help stop the further development of bartholinitis and avoid surgical excision.

All other ointments widely used by women for this disease are absolutely useless. Some, on the contrary, can even aggravate the condition and lead to a hospital bed.

Vishnevsky

Bartholinitis, aggravated by the formation of a purulent abscess, is often treated by women not only with lotions and decoctions, but also with ointments. Vishnevsky's ointment is especially popular, which is a huge mistake when fighting the disease on your own.

The fact is that the main component of Vishnevsky’s ointment is birch tar. This substance in no way eliminates the inflammatory process or kills harmful microorganisms. On the contrary, it increases blood circulation, which stimulates the acceleration of the development of the disease. Such treatment always leads to the fact that surgical intervention cannot be avoided.

Doctors prescribe this drug exclusively for advanced forms of bartholinitis, when the process needs to be accelerated, causing the abscess to rupture to release the accumulated pus.

Levomekol ointment is the most effective in the treatment of bartholinitis. It has an anti-edematous effect and contains an antibiotic.

This drug is widely used in surgery and is often prescribed to women for bartholinitis. Levomekol accelerates the healing of wounds and kills infections perfectly, but its use will bring little benefit if the abscess has not yet opened or the disease has not yet festered at all.

Ichthyol

In its action, Ichthyol ointment is similar to Vishnevsky ointment. It is not an antibacterial agent and does not fight inflammation.

Ichthyol, which is part of this drug, improves blood circulation in the area treated with it, which only aggravates the disease. Therefore, it is undesirable to use Ichthyol ointment for bartholinitis. At the initial stage of development, it will only provoke a worsening of the condition and make the formation of suppuration inevitable.

Differences between traditional therapy and treatment of bartholinitis at home

Traditional treatment for bartholinitis involves surgical dissection of the abscess. This manipulation is necessary to remove purulent contents and thoroughly treat the inflamed cavity. Only after all these manipulations have been carried out does the disease stop progressing, and the wound itself heals quite quickly.

However, inflammation often develops again after surgery. In this case, they speak of a chronic form of the disease. Therefore, when diagnosed with bartholinitis, gynecologists often recommend that the patient undergo complete removal of the Bartholin gland. This manipulation allows you to get rid of the disease forever, preventing the possibility of relapse.

But you should not immediately agree to radical surgery. Most European countries have long abandoned such an operation, since it is very traumatic, and the process itself is accompanied by large blood loss. Today, there are types of surgical procedures that allow you to get rid of bartholinitis without removing the glands. Therefore, if your doctor suggests the first treatment option, it is better to refuse it and insist on a safer method.

At home, it allows you to avoid surgical intervention. But this is only possible if the therapy is correctly selected and all the rules are followed. Otherwise, the disease can only worsen and then surgery simply cannot be avoided.

Getting rid of pain

Most often, inflammation of the Bartholin glands is accompanied by severe pain. You can quickly calm down the pain that occurs in the early stages of the disease by using ice, holding it in the appropriate place for about 30 minutes.

Ice can be applied as a bandage by placing frozen cubes in a bag and wrapping it with a scarf. This method is absolutely safe, so you can wear the bandage throughout the day (changing it periodically).

If bartholinitis breaks out at home and the pain is simply unbearable, you should take a painkiller such as Doloren, Diclofenac, Ketorolac, etc. In addition to the analgesic effect, these drugs are anti-inflammatory, help with increased body temperature and have a long-lasting effect.

Prevention methods

You can prevent the development of bartholinitis in fairly simple and well-known ways, such as:

Maintain intimate hygiene by washing your face every morning and evening;
strengthen immune forces, in this case, even if the infection penetrates the vaginal mucosa, the body will cope with it on its own, preventing further development;
wear underwear made of high-quality fabric;
Every sexual contact must be protected; for this, a condom should be used.

Also, as a preventive measure for any female ailment, it is necessary to regularly visit a gynecologist. And if you suspect bartholinitis, it is best to immediately seek qualified help without resorting to self-medication.

Text: Tatyana Maratova

Bartholinitis, the treatment of which can sometimes take much longer than a woman expected, occurs when the Bartholin gland in the vestibule of the vagina is blocked.

Causes of the disease

What does it suggest? bartholinitis treatment and what is bartholinitis anyway? When the opening of the Bartholin gland becomes blocked, a fluid-filled cyst forms in the vagina. Bartholinitis itself is not an infection, although infection may well be its cause. Bartholinitis can also occur as a result of inflammation or physical blockage (for example, mucus) of the Bartholin gland leading to the vagina. If infection occurs, the result will be just bartholinitis. If the infection is severe or repeated, a surgical procedure called marsupialization may be necessary to treat bartholinitis. Sometimes only such an operation can stop the occurrence of relapses.

Without immediate treatment, iron bartholinitis can grow to the size of a pea, or even the size of a chicken egg. Bartholinitis is most likely to occur in women of childbearing age, and when such a disease is detected in a woman over 40 years of age, the doctor may recommend a biopsy to be sure that there are no cancer cells. It should be noted, however, that Bartholin gland cancer is extremely rare.

A hot bath will help

Bartholinitis is not a disease that is sexually transmitted. It is quite rare, so the mechanism of formation of bartholinitis is poorly understood. What is certain is that a bacterial infection or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are not its causes.

Treatment of bartholinitis can be carried out not only by visiting a doctor, but also at home. Home treatment for bartholinitis includes sitz baths, which help remove fluid from the cyst (in medicine, similar procedures are sometimes called drainage). There are special sitz baths for this, but the easiest way is to sit in a bathtub filled with a few centimeters of warm water. The water should not be very hot. Such baths should be taken for 10-15 minutes, several times a day. Sometimes such procedures are all that is needed to cure bartholinitis.

In the vestibule of a woman's vagina there is a paired gland called Bartholin's gland. When it becomes inflamed, a diagnosis of “bartholinitis” is made. Treatment is often done with surgery. Bartholinitis can become chronic. In this case, relapses occur and cysts develop.

Indications for non-surgical treatment

Conservative treatment of bartholinitis is possible only at the stages of inflammation (canaliculitis) or false abscess of the Bartholin gland.

Surgery is resorted to in the last phase of the disease. It is called a true Bartholin's gland abscess. Contraindications for surgery:

acute bartholinitis;
absence of suppuration, abscess or cyst in the Bartholin gland;
presence of concomitant diseases.

How to relieve inflammation of the gland without surgery

The goal of treatment without surgery is to prevent the progression of bartholinitis and prevent it from moving into the stage of a false or true abscess. Treatment is aimed at reducing pain, reducing swelling of the gland and general symptoms of intoxication of the body.

At an early stage, with minor inflammation, therapy is carried out at home. Acute inflammation of the Bartholin gland does not require hospitalization. In case of temporary disability, treatment can take place in a day hospital. Indication for hospitalization and surgery is an abscess of the Bartholin gland. Conservative treatment includes the following main methods:

local therapy with ointments, creams, suppositories;
taking antibiotics;
physiotherapy;
folk remedies;
taking general restoratives.

Treatment of acute form of bartholinitis

To cure acute bartholinitis, a woman is prescribed local and systemic therapy. It includes antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs. With timely and correct treatment, the disease resolves within 1–4 days if diagnosed at the canaliculitis stage, and after 2–7 days with a false abscess. The list of commonly used medications includes:

Drug name	Action	Directions for use	Course duration, days
Levomekol	Relieves inflammation, has a bacterial effect.	Apply the ointment to a gauze swab and apply to the Bartholin gland. Apply in the morning and evening.
Miramistin or Chlorhexidine	Shows antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.	Irrigate the genital area 3-4 times a day.
Azithromycin	Has an antibacterial effect.	500 mg 1 time/day.

Drug therapy for chronic inflammation

To cure chronic bartholinitis, doctors take measures to achieve remission. During an exacerbation, treatment follows the same scheme as for acute bartholinitis. Therapy without surgery includes:

local use of antibacterial ointments;
taking antibiotics;
sitz baths with herbal decoctions;
compresses with hypertonic saline solution;
taking general strengthening drugs.

In the chronic form of inflammation of the Bartholin gland, drug therapy gives a temporary effect. Bartholinitis will worsen in the future - every 3-6 months. It is possible to completely get rid of chronic bartholinitis only through surgery.

Treatment of bartholinitis during pregnancy

During pregnancy, standard measures help cure bartholinitis. The difference is that medications are prescribed to pregnant women with extreme caution. Among antibiotics, the following drugs are allowed for women:

Ceftriaxone – 625 mg/day. inside.
Azithromycin – 0.5 g 1 time/day.
Suprax – 400 mg orally 1 time/day.

Local therapy will help cure bartholinitis in pregnant women:

Chlorhexidine or Miramistin. The area of the Bartholin gland is irrigated with an antiseptic up to 3–4 times a day.
Ointment Ichthyol, Vishnevsky or Levomekol. A small amount of the product is applied to a gauze swab, which is then applied to the site of inflammation. Ointments can be changed. The procedure is carried out 2 times/day.

Local treatment of the disease

Preparations for external use help cure bartholinitis only at an early stage. Already at the stage of a false abscess without antibiotics, such drugs will be ineffective. Local therapy, as in the case of acute bartholinitis, includes:

ointment Levomekol, Ichthyol or Vishnevsky;
antiseptic Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt or Chlorhexidine;
applications with saline solution.