Symptoms of Bartholinitis: redness, swelling, and hard lumps

Bartholinitis is generally an inflammation caused by pathogen infection. At the beginning, the patient will have a red, swollen lump on the back of the labia, with pain and burning sensation. If Bartholinitis is not treated in time and causes purulent inflammation, it will develop into Bartholin's gland abscess.

1. Symptoms and Signs

Redness, swelling, hard lumps, pain, burning sensation, obvious tenderness, painful urination, difficulty walking, and sometimes difficulty urinating and defecating are found in the posterior 1/3 of the labia majora. It is mostly unilateral, but occasionally bilateral. After that, the skin on the surface of the lump becomes thinner, the surrounding tissue becomes edematous, there is a sense of fluctuation, and it develops into an abscess. The lumps vary in size, mostly the size of an egg. Often accompanied by swollen inguinal lymph nodes. In severe cases, there may be systemic symptoms such as fever and headache. If left untreated, the abscess may rupture on its own. After the pus flows out, local pain will be relieved, congestion and edema will be reduced, and systemic symptoms will disappear. When the pressure inside the abscess increases, the surface skin becomes thinner and the abscess ruptures on its own. If the hole is large, it can drain on its own, and the inflammation will subside quickly and heal.

If the rupture is small, the pus cannot be completely drained and the lesion may recur. Examination revealed local skin redness, swelling, fever, and obvious tenderness. Sometimes systemic symptoms such as increased body temperature and increased white blood cell count may occur. If it is a Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, squeezing the area may cause thin, yellowish pus to flow out. When an abscess is formed, the pain intensifies and a sense of fluctuation can be felt. In severe cases, the diameter of the abscess can reach 5 to 6 cm. The patient will experience systemic symptoms such as fever, and the inguinal lymph nodes may enlarge to varying degrees.

2. Pathological causes

The Bartholin's glands are located in the deep 1/3 of the posterior labia majora on both sides, and the glandular ducts open between the hymen and the labia minora. Due to the characteristics of the anatomical location, when the vulva is contaminated during sexual intercourse, childbirth or other situations, pathogens can easily invade and cause Bartholinitis. When the Bartholin's glands are infected, the gland ducts are often affected first, and the gland duct openings are blocked due to inflammation, congestion and edema. Secretions and exudates are not easily discharged, and a Bartholin's gland abscess may form.