What Are The Bartholin Glands?
Your vulva has a number of glands including oil glands, Bartholin’s glands, and Skene’s glands.
The Bartholin glands are pea-sized and found just behind either side of the labia (lips) that surround the vagina. They are not usually noticeable and are rarely larger than 1cm.
These glands secrete fluid that acts as your natural lube during sex. The fluid travels down the ducts (tubes) into the vagina.
What Are Bartholin Cysts?
If the ducts that secrete your natural lube become blocked, they can fill and expand to form a cyst.
It is often not known what causes this, but some can be linked to STIs, such as Gonorrhoea or Chlamydia or other bacterial infections such as e.coli.
If the cysts become painful, doctors can prescribe antibiotics or the cysts in some cases can be drained.
