Kista Bartholin (Bartholin Cyst): Tanda, Punca & Rawatan

Kista Bartholin (a Bartholin’s cyst) is a soft lump on one side of the opening of the vagina. It forms when one of the two small Bartholin’s glands, which make fluid for lubrication, becomes blocked. It is most common in women aged 20 to 50, is often small and painless, and often goes away by itself. Warm baths and warm compresses can ease discomfort, but you should never squeeze it. If the cyst gets infected it can become an abscess, which is very painful and may come with a high temperature; this needs a doctor, who may give antibiotics or drain it. Always get any new lump in or around your vagina checked. This guide explains the signs, causes, what helps at home, treatment, pregnancy and when to see a doctor.

Apa itu kista Bartholin?

A Bartholin’s cyst is a lump near the opening of the vagina. Bartholin’s cysts do not always need treatment, but any lump should always be checked by a doctor (NHS). They usually affect women aged between 20 and 50 years, and can affect anyone with a vagina (NHS).

It is not rare. A London hospital team reported that Bartholin’s cysts or abscesses affect about 2% of women (Haider 2007). In a national health insurance sample from Korea, new cysts and abscesses became more common with age until menopause and less common after it; in women aged 35 to 50, the yearly rate was about twice the overall rate (Yuk 2013).

Doctors separate two situations:

• Kista Bartholin (Bartholin’s cyst): the gland is blocked and fills with fluid. It may be painless.
• Abses Bartholin (Bartholin’s abscess): the blocked fluid becomes infected and fills with pus. It is usually very painful (MedlinePlus).

Kelenjar Bartholin: di mana dan apa fungsinya

The Bartholin’s glands are located under the skin on either side of the opening of the vagina. They release a fluid that helps with lubrication during sex (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). The glands drain through small ducts that open at roughly the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions of the vaginal opening (Omole 2003).

These glands are normally about the size of a pea and cannot be felt. You only notice them if the duct becomes blocked and a cyst forms, or if a gland abscess develops (Omole 2003). This is why a Bartholin’s cyst almost always appears on one side only, low down near the vaginal opening.

Tanda kista Bartholin

The main symptom of a Bartholin’s cyst is a soft lump on one side near the opening of your vagina. It can be small and painless and may not cause any symptoms (NHS). It can range in size from a pea to a golf ball (NHS). Other symptoms can include (NHS):

• discomfort or pain around the vagina (vulva) when you walk, sit down or have sex;
• one side of the vaginal lips (labia) looking larger or swollen.

Some women only find out they have a Bartholin’s cyst during a routine examination, such as cervical screening (NHS). If you are due for screening, see our guide to the Pap smear and HPV test in Malaysia.

Bila kista dijangkiti: abses Bartholin

If a Bartholin’s cyst becomes infected, it may turn into an abscess (NHS). A Bartholin abscess is a buildup of pus that forms a lump in one of the glands. The area becomes very warm and swollen, and activity that puts pressure on the vulva, such as walking and sitting, may cause severe pain (MedlinePlus). Symptoms of an abscess include (NHS):

• intense pain around the abscess;
• smelly discharge from the abscess;
• feeling unwell, or having a high temperature.

MedlinePlus also lists swelling and redness, pain during sex, vaginal discharge and a feeling of pressure in the vagina (MedlinePlus). Redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin (NHS), so pay attention to heat, swelling and pain as well.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent serious complications such as sepsis and a rectovaginal fistula, an abnormal opening between the vagina and the back passage (Long 2021). So do not wait at home with a lump that is quickly getting bigger and more painful.

Punca kista Bartholin dan siapa berisiko

A Bartholin’s cyst happens when the small glands near the vagina become blocked. It is often not known why the glands become blocked (NHS). When the duct is blocked, fluid builds up in the gland and may become infected (MedlinePlus).

Apa kuman yang menyebabkan abses Bartholin?

A Bartholin’s abscess may be caused by infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia (NHS). However, studies of the pus from Bartholin’s abscesses usually find ordinary bacteria:

• In 267 women treated for an acute Bartholin’s abscess at an Israeli hospital, bacteria were found in 57.7% of cultures. E. coli was the single most common germ, found in 22.1% of the women, followed by Streptococcus species in 10.1% (Krissi 2016). Their average age was 33.5 years (Krissi 2016).
• In 224 cases in Japan, E. coli was also the most frequently isolated bacterium (Tanaka 2005).

So a Bartholin’s cyst or abscess does not automatically mean you have an STI. But because STIs can be a cause, your doctor may test the fluid (NHS), and it is important to treat any vaginal infection that is diagnosed at the same time (MedlinePlus). If you are worried about STIs, see our guide to gonorea dan klamidia.

Siapa lebih berisiko?

• Women of reproductive age: cysts usually affect women aged 20 to 50 (NHS), and in Korea new cases rose with age until menopause and then fell (Yuk 2013).
• Women who have had one before: cysts and abscesses can come back (MedlinePlus). In a French study, a past Bartholin’s abscess was more common in pregnant women who developed one (55% compared with 30.1%) (Boujenah 2017).

Benjolan lain di kemaluan yang mungkin disangka kista Bartholin

Not every lump near the vagina is a Bartholin’s cyst. Doctors also consider other cysts and growths of the vulva, such as an epidermal inclusion cyst, a Skene’s duct cyst, a hidradenoma papilliferum (a small harmless growth) and a lipoma (a fatty lump) (Omole 2003). Other conditions that can cause a bump in the area include:

Because the causes overlap, the NHS advises seeing a doctor about any lump in or around your vagina (NHS), rather than guessing at home. If you also have itching, see our guide to gatal faraj, and for unusual discharge, see our guide to keputihan.

Apa berlaku semasa jumpa doktor

Many women feel shy about having this area examined. Knowing what to expect can help:

• The doctor will look at the lump to check if it is a Bartholin’s cyst (NHS). This may include a pelvic examination, in which the gland will feel enlarged and tender if there is an abscess (MedlinePlus).
• You can ask for someone else to be in the room with you (a chaperone). This could be someone you know, a nurse or a trained member of staff (NHS). It is also reasonable to ask whether a female doctor is available.
• Any vaginal discharge or fluid drainage may be sent to a lab for testing (MedlinePlus).
• If the doctor is not sure what is causing the lump, they may refer you for further tests (NHS). In rare cases, a biopsy may be suggested in older women to look for a tumour (MedlinePlus).

Cara legakan kista Bartholin di rumah

If a doctor has confirmed a Bartholin’s cyst, it will often go away by itself without treatment. These steps can help relieve discomfort or pain (NHS):

• Rendam dalam air suam (warm soak): sit in a bath with warm water a few times a day, for 3 to 4 days (NHS). Soaking in warm water 4 times a day for several days can also help an abscess open and drain on its own (MedlinePlus). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also describes sitting in a warm, shallow bath or using a warm compress (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).
• Tuam suam (warm compress): dip a cloth or cotton wool in warm water and hold it gently on the cyst (NHS).
• Ubat tahan sakit: take ibuprofen or paracetamol to help with pain (NHS). If you are pregnant, paracetamol is usually the best painkiller, and you should avoid ibuprofen unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it (NHS).

Do not try to squeeze or drain the fluid from a Bartholin’s cyst yourself, as this can cause infection (NHS).

Kalau kista Bartholin pecah sendiri

If a Bartholin’s cyst bursts on its own, this is OK and should ease the pain. Keep the area clean and dry to help stop infection (NHS). The opening is often very small and closes quickly, so an abscess often returns (MedlinePlus). If it fills up again, see a doctor.

Rawatan kista dan abses Bartholin

Treatment depends on whether the lump is a simple cyst or an infected abscess, how big and painful it is, and whether it keeps coming back. The aim is to preserve the gland and its function if possible (Omole 2003).

Antibiotik

If you have an infected Bartholin’s cyst, you will be offered antibiotics (NHS). You may be asked to take antibiotics if there is pus or other signs of infection (MedlinePlus). A painless cyst without infection does not need antibiotics: one review advises broad-spectrum antibiotics only when there is cellulitis, a spreading skin infection (Omole 2003).

Mengeluarkan cecair (drainage) dan kateter Word

If antibiotics do not work, or the cyst keeps coming back, you may need a procedure to drain it. This may be done under local anaesthetic, where you are awake, or general anaesthetic, where you are asleep. The doctor makes a cut in the cyst and may leave a small opening so fluid can drain, or insert a small, thin tube (catheter) into the cyst (NHS).

With a Word catheter, a 1 to 2 cm cut is made, the cavity is washed out and the catheter is left in place for 4 to 6 weeks so the area drains while it heals, without stitches (MedlinePlus). The NHS says you will usually have the catheter in for around 4 weeks (NHS). You cannot have sex until the catheter is removed, and you should start warm soaks 1 to 2 days afterwards (MedlinePlus).

Simple cutting and draining alone has a high chance of the abscess coming back, so doctors prefer to place a Word catheter or a similar ring device so a new drainage channel can form (Long 2021).

Marsupialisasi

Marsupialisation is a minor operation that creates an oval opening along the cyst and stitches the edges, so the gland can keep draining. It can sometimes be done in the clinic with numbing medicine, or in hospital under general anaesthetic. You cannot have sex for 4 weeks afterwards (MedlinePlus). One review advises that marsupialisation should not be used to treat an abscess, only a cyst (Omole 2003), and it is often kept for cysts that keep coming back (Long 2021).

Membuang kelenjar (excision)

If abscesses keep coming back, your doctor may recommend removing the gland completely. This is generally done in hospital under general anaesthetic, and you cannot have sex for 4 weeks afterwards (MedlinePlus).

Rawatan mana paling baik?

There is no single best treatment. Research so far shows:

In practice, your doctor will suggest an option based on your symptoms, whether it is the first time, and what is available at the clinic or hospital. The chance of a full recovery is excellent, although abscesses may return in a few cases (MedlinePlus).

Kista Bartholin semasa mengandung

A Bartholin’s abscess can also happen during pregnancy. Two hospital studies give some reassurance:

• In a French university hospital, 40 of 156 women treated for a Bartholin’s abscess were pregnant. The abscess occurred in all three trimesters and after birth. No severe perineal or newborn infections occurred, and the germs found were the same as in women who were not pregnant, most often E. coli. With appropriate treatment, outcomes for mother and baby were favourable (Boujenah 2017).
• In an Israeli hospital, 38 of 363 women treated for a Bartholin’s abscess were pregnant or had just given birth. Their symptoms and germs were similar to other women, and no adverse pregnancy outcomes were seen, but the abscess came back more often in the pregnant group (Grinberg 2021).

If you are pregnant and notice a lump, tell your doctor or midwife at your antenatal check-up. For pain, paracetamol is usually the best painkiller in pregnancy, and ibuprofen should be avoided unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it (NHS). If you are planning a pregnancy, see our guide on cara cepat hamil.

Adakah kista Bartholin boleh jadi kanser?

Very rarely, a lump in the Bartholin’s gland is cancer. Bartholin gland cancer makes up only 3 to 7% of vulval cancers and less than 1% of gynaecological cancers. Because it can be mistaken for a harmless cyst or abscess, about half of cases are found at an advanced stage (Kostov 2025).

This is why doctors take extra care in older women. A biopsy may be suggested in older women to look for a tumour (MedlinePlus), and one review advises removing the lump for testing in women around or after menopause who have an irregular, lumpy Bartholin’s gland mass (Omole 2003). New Bartholin’s cysts become less common after menopause (Yuk 2013). If you are around or past menopause and notice a new lump, a hard or irregular lump, or a lump that keeps coming back, see a doctor. For changes after menopause, see our guide to menopaus.

Mitos tentang kista Bartholin

Bila perlu jumpa doktor

See a doctor if you have a lump in or around your vagina (NHS), even if it does not hurt. A doctor can confirm what it is.

Get an urgent doctor’s appointment if you have a lump in or around your vagina and (NHS):

• it gets bigger and more painful within hours or days;
• there is pus in the lump;
• you feel unwell or have a high temperature;
• the lump becomes tender, swollen, hot and red.

These could be signs of an infected Bartholin’s cyst (abscess) (NHS). Also contact a doctor if a painful, swollen lump does not improve with 2 to 3 days of home treatment, if the pain is severe and stops your normal activities, or if you have a cyst and develop a fever higher than 38°C (MedlinePlus).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa itu kista Bartholin (what is a Bartholin’s cyst)?

A Bartholin’s cyst is a lump near the opening of the vagina. It happens when small glands near the vagina, the Bartholin’s glands, become blocked (NHS). These glands are on each side of the vaginal opening and release a fluid that helps with lubrication during sex (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Bartholin’s cysts usually affect women aged between 20 and 50 (NHS).

Adakah kista Bartholin bahaya (is a Bartholin’s cyst dangerous)?

Usually not. A Bartholin’s cyst can be small and painless, does not always need treatment and often goes away by itself (NHS). It becomes a problem if it gets infected and turns into an abscess, which causes intense pain and may make you feel unwell or give you a high temperature (NHS). Bartholin gland cancer is rare, making up 3 to 7% of vulval cancers (Kostov 2025). Always get any lump in or around your vagina checked by a doctor (NHS).

Boleh kista Bartholin hilang sendiri (can a Bartholin’s cyst go away on its own)?

Yes, it often goes away by itself without treatment (NHS). Sitting in a bath of warm water a few times a day for 3 to 4 days, or holding a cloth dipped in warm water gently on the cyst, can help relieve discomfort (NHS). If a cyst bursts on its own, this is OK and should ease the pain; keep the area clean and dry (NHS). See a doctor if a painful lump does not improve with 2 to 3 days of home treatment (MedlinePlus).

Boleh saya pecahkan kista Bartholin sendiri (can I squeeze or pop it myself)?

No. Do not try to squeeze or drain the fluid from a Bartholin’s cyst yourself, as this can cause infection (NHS). Warm baths and warm compresses are the safe way to ease discomfort at home. If the cyst needs draining, a doctor can do it under local or general anaesthetic (NHS).

Adakah kista Bartholin disebabkan penyakit kelamin (is a Bartholin’s cyst caused by a sexually transmitted infection)?

Not usually. It is often not known why the glands become blocked (NHS). An infected cyst, called an abscess, may be caused by infections including sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia (NHS), but in studies of Bartholin’s abscesses the most common germ found was E. coli, a gut bacterium (Krissi 2016; Tanaka 2005). Your doctor may test the fluid for infection (NHS).

Kista Bartholin semasa mengandung, bahaya ke (is a Bartholin’s cyst dangerous in pregnancy)?

In a French hospital study of 40 pregnant women treated for a Bartholin’s abscess, no severe perineal or newborn infections occurred, and with appropriate treatment the outcomes for mother and baby were favourable (Boujenah 2017). An Israeli study found no adverse pregnancy outcomes, although the abscess came back more often in pregnant women (Grinberg 2021). Tell your doctor or midwife about any lump, and ask before taking painkillers: paracetamol is usually the best painkiller in pregnancy, and ibuprofen should be avoided unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it (NHS).

Boleh kista Bartholin datang balik (can a Bartholin’s cyst come back)?

Yes. If antibiotics do not work, or the cyst keeps coming back, you may need a procedure to drain it (NHS), and if abscesses keep coming back the gland can be removed (MedlinePlus). In a trial of 161 women, the cyst or abscess came back within a year in 12% after a Word catheter and 10% after marsupialisation, a similar rate (Kroese 2017). The chance of a full recovery is excellent (MedlinePlus).

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. See a doctor about any lump in or around your vagina, and ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

References

• Bartholin’s cyst — NHS
• Bartholin cyst or abscess — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
• Disorders of the vulva: common causes of vulvar pain, burning and itching — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Ibuprofen for adults — NHS
• Paracetamol for adults — NHS
• Boils — NHS
• Genital warts — NHS
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• Grinberg N, et al. Clinical and microbiological features of Bartholin’s gland abscess in pregnant and non-pregnant women. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021;34(7):1127-1132.
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