What is Vaginal Cyst?

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), 10 years of experience
What is the meaning of Vaginal Cyst?
A vaginal cyst is a closed pouch or pocket of tissue that is filled with fluid, pus, or air, and located on or under the lining of the vagina. Vaginal cysts usually have no symptoms, but can cause uncomfortable sexual intercourse or pain when inserting tampons.
Vaginal cysts are usually small in size and do not require treatment. However in some cases when the cysts become large it may cause itching, pain, or increased chances of an infection.
In today’s article, we will be talking about vaginal cysts in detail.
- What are the types of Vaginal Cysts?
- What are the symptoms of Vaginal Cyst?
- What are the causes of Vaginal cysts?
- How to diagnose Vaginal Cyst?
- What is the treatment for Vaginal Cyst?
- What are the complications of Vaginal Cysts?
What are the types of Vaginal Cysts?
The different types of vaginal cysts are described below.
- Mullerian Cysts: They are one of the most common types of vaginal cysts. Mullerian cysts are formed from the material that is left behind when a baby develops. They can grow anywhere on the vaginal wall and may contain mucus.
- Gartner’s Duct Cysts: These cysts occur when ducts in a developing embryo do not disappear as they are supposed to after the birth of a baby. These remaining ducts get filled with fluid and develop into a cyst on the walls of the vagina.
- Inclusion Cysts: Inclusion cysts are one of the common types of vaginal cysts. They usually affect the lower wall of the vagina. These are difficult to detect because they are very small and occur due to an injury during childbirth.
- Bartholin’s Gland Cysts: These are fluid-filled cysts that grow on the Bartholin’s glands. These glands are present on either side of the vaginal opening and produce a fluid that lubricates the vaginal lips. These types of cysts are usually painless.
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What are the symptoms of Vaginal Cyst?
- Most of the time vaginal cysts do not cause any symptoms.
- A soft lump may be felt inside the vaginal wall or protruding out from the vagina in some cases.
- The size of the cyst may vary and can be the size of a pea or the size of an orange.
- A woman with a vaginal cyst may have discomfort while having sex.
- The presence of a large vaginal cyst may cause trouble while inserting a tampon.
- Some vaginal cysts may cause discomfort while walking or exercising.
- Most vaginal cysts are not painful. However, larger cysts like Bartholin’s gland cysts can cause pain when infected.
- Vaginal cysts can become infected by the presence of normal bacteria on the skin or due to a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
- The infected vaginal cyst may lead to an abscess formation, which is a lump filled with pus. This can be extremely painful.
Women should get themselves examined by a gynecologist at least once a year to detect the presence of vaginal cysts in the early stage.
(Know more about- What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases? Symptoms, Types, and Prevention)
What are the causes of Vaginal cysts?
A vaginal cyst may develop when a duct or gland becomes clogged, leading to the collection of the fluid inside.
The cause of the vaginal cyst depends on the type of vaginal cyst.
- Injury to the walls of the vagina during childbirth, or after surgery may cause vaginal inclusion cysts.
- During the development of the baby inside the womb, Gartner duct cysts may develop. These cysts usually disappear after the birth of the baby. However, if some parts of the duct are remaining after childbirth, they may collect fluid and lead to a vaginal cyst wall later on.
- When fluid or pus builds up forming a lump in one of the Bartholin glands (found on either side of the vaginal opening) it may lead to Bartholin cyst or abscess formation.
- In rare cases, endometriosis (a condition in which the tissue that is lining the uterus grows outside the uterus) can appear as small cysts in the vagina.
- Benign (non-cancerous) tumors composed of cysts may be found in the vagina.
- Cystoceles and rectoceles are the bulges seen in the wall of the vagina from the underlying bladder or rectum. This usually occurs due to childbirth, when the muscles that surround the vagina become weak. Although these are not cysts, they appear and feel like cysts in the vagina.
( Know more about- What is Cystocele? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment )
How to diagnose Vaginal Cyst?
- Pelvic Exam: The obstetrician or the gynecologist will feel the presence of a cystic mass on the wall of the vagina during a routine pelvic exam, in which one or two gloved fingers are inserted by the doctor into the vagina to check the cervix, vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and rectum.
- The patient’s medical history and symptoms are noted by the doctor. The doctor may suggest the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:
- Biopsy: A small part of the cyst tissue is removed and sent to the laboratory to check for the possibility of vaginal cancer.
- X-rays: X-rays may be required to see if the cyst extends into the urethra or the bladder.
- CT scan, MRI scan, Ultrasound: These procedures may be performed to obtain detailed images of the cyst.
- Certain tests may be done on the secretions obtained from the cervix or the vagina to check for the presence of any Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
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What is the treatment for Vaginal Cyst?
In most cases, treatment of a vaginal cyst is not necessary as it goes away on its own. Routine examinations are necessary to check for any changes in the cyst that may require treatment.
In some cases, before treating the vaginal cyst, the doctor gathers some information about the patient’s symptoms so that the appropriate treatment can be given. Let us tell you about the treatment.
- Doctors usually give a dose of some antibiotics to reduce the infection. If you have an abscess in your vagina, then medicine is given to eliminate it. Also, if the abscess is dry, then antibiotics are not given.
- Women are advised to take a bath with lukewarm water two to three times in case of infection. By doing so, the cyst infection gets reduced without using any medicines.
- Marsupialization is a procedure that involves making a small incision into the cyst to drain out the fluid. The edges of the incision are then sutured to the sides of the incision.
- To remove an infected or large cyst, the doctor recommends having surgery. It is done under the action of anesthesia or sedation. In this surgery, the doctor makes a small incision in the cyst and dries it out. After this, a small tube called a catheter is placed in the incision to drain out the pus and other fluids.
- Bartholin gland cysts usually require drainage. Antibiotics may be given to treat them.
- For cysts that keep recurring, the surgeon may recommend surgery to remove the entire cyst.
(Know more about- What is Ovarian Cyst Removal Surgery? Causes, Procedure, Risks, and Cost)
What are the complications of Vaginal Cysts?
- Complications occurring due to vaginal cysts are rare.
- The cysts may grow in size over time leading to an increase in pain and discomfort.
- An infection in the cyst may lead to an abscess formation. An abscess is a large collection of fluid and pus causing pain, swelling, and redness. An abscess may require drainage for healing.
- Surgery done for the removal of the cyst may have a risk of infection and other complications at the excision site.
We hope we have answered all your questions about Vaginal Cysts through this article.
If you experience any problems related to the vagina and want to get treatment for a vaginal cyst, then contact a Gynecologist.
We only aim to give you information through this article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice and the correct treatment plan.