What are the symptoms of Bartholinitis?

The Bartholin's glands are located below the labia majora on both sides, and the gland ducts open on the inner side of the labia minora near the hymen. When the vulva is contaminated by sexual intercourse, childbirth or other situations, pathogens can easily invade and cause inflammation. So what are the symptoms of Bartholin's glanditis? Here we will introduce them to you in detail.

In the acute stage, there is local pain and redness and swelling. The pain is most severe when a Bartholin's gland abscess forms. Fever is common, but chills are rare. Sometimes urination and defecation are difficult. Clinical examination can reveal a red, swollen, hard lump in the lower 1/3 of the labia majora, which is obviously tender.

If it has developed into an abscess, it is usually an egg- to apple-sized mass, usually unilateral. The skin on the surface of the mass is red, thin, and the surrounding tissue is edematous. In severe cases, the inflammation may spread to the perineum and the contralateral vulva. There is significant local tenderness and a sense of fluctuation, and the inguinal lymph nodes are often enlarged.

The pathogens are mostly Staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Streptococci and Enterococci, and mixed infections are often present.

Acute Bartholinitis first invades the gland duct, presenting with acute suppurative inflammation, with local redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Sometimes there are systemic symptoms such as a feeling of heaviness and difficulty in urination and defecation, fever, and increased white blood cell count. The gland duct opening is often blocked due to swelling or agglutination of exudate, and pus cannot flow out to form an abscess, which is called Bartholin gland abscess.

There may be a sense of fluctuation in the local area. When the pressure in the abscess cavity of the swollen inguinal lymph nodes increases, it may rupture on its own. If the rupture is large and the drainage is smooth, the inflammation can subside and heal quickly. If the rupture is small and the drainage is not smooth, it may recur, often making the patient restless when walking or lying down.

When the acute inflammation disappears, the gland duct opening is blocked, the glandular secretion fluid cannot be discharged or the pus gradually turns into mucus to form a cyst, which is called Bartholin's gland cyst.