The human body has many external secretion glands that secrete secretions for a protective purpose. In the vestibule of the vagina are glands called Bartholin glands. These are paired formations at the base of the labia majora, the size of a pea. The Bartholin glands keep the labia moist by secreting secretions. Like any gland, the Bartholin gland can become inflamed and cause a condition called bartholinitis. What symptoms indicate bartholinitis? What modern methods of treatment of diseases of the Bartholin gland, read in our article.
Bartolinitis. Causes and symptoms of bartholinitis
Bartholinitis - inflammation of the Bartholin glands of the vestibule of the vagina. When the inflammatory process is started, an abscess is formed on the gland (purulent cavity, which is surrounded by a pyogenic capsule).
Bartholinitis is always caused by an infection. More often these are anaerobes that have entered the gland from the urethra or vagina. Bartholinitis is usually unilateral, but bilateral lesions are also possible. A predisposing factor in the occurrence of bartholinitis is poor personal hygiene and promiscuity without barrier methods of contraception.
The clinical picture of bartholinitis is not pronounced, the body temperature can rise to 37.50 C. The woman feels swelling and soreness on one side of the vestibule of the vagina, while walking and sexual intercourse, the symptoms intensify. There you can also see and feel a compacted lump on the labia of red color, painful to the touch. A serous or serous-purulent fluid may be secreted from the gland with bartholinitis.
Features of the course of inflammation of the Bartholin gland
Inflammation of the Bartholin gland can occur in women in different ways. Bartholinitis can spontaneously heal and pass without complications. It can also become complicated and turn into a cyst or into a chronic form of bartholinitis with frequent subsequent exacerbations. With the transition of inflammation of the Bartholin gland into a chronic form or a cyst, pain during walking and sexual intercourse is not felt. With suppuration in the Bartholin gland, an abscess is formed. With these complications, the Bartholin gland can be as large as a chicken egg or more. The temperature reaches higher numbers, a serious condition is possible.
Diagnosis of bartholinitis is based on the patient's typical complaints of swelling at the base of one of the labia majora (rarely bilateral), soreness, and redness. On examination, the doctor differentiates the inflammation of the Bartholin gland from benign neoplasms (fibromas, lipomas). To do this, during a gynecological examination, the specialist pays attention to the condition of the lymph nodes in the small pelvis.
Modern approach to the treatment of bartholinitis
If there is an asymptomatic course of a Bartholin gland cyst or bartholinitis, treatment is not required. All you need is observation, sufficient hygiene and a balanced diet. In case of an acute process or exacerbation of chronic bartholinitis, infection of a Bartholin gland cyst or abscess, treatment with antibacterial drugs is necessary. Bartholinitis responds well to treatment with its timely onset. If the treatment is started late and / or was unsuccessful, in such cases, an operation on the Bartholin gland is indicated. Also, surgery is indicated for cysts of the Bartholin gland, which are accompanied by painful symptoms.
Method of surgical intervention in diseases of the Bartholin gland
Under local anesthesia (rarely under general anesthesia), the abscess cavity is drained and washed with antiseptics. Sometimes a catheter is placed in the abscess cavity for 3-4 weeks. In this case, a channel is formed through which the secret of the gland will pass in the future. Silver nitrate is sometimes injected into the abscess cavity.
During the operation, it is mandatory to take the contents of the cyst or abscess for examination, because the cyst of the Bartholin gland is a frequent complication of gonorrhea infection. If the causative agent of gonorrhea is found in the contents of the gland, both sexual partners are prescribed specific treatment. The same tactics should be used when detecting chlamydia.
If cysts and abscesses in the Bartholin gland often recur, another operation called marsupialization is performed. It consists of suturing on each side of the incisions. These sutures are sutured to the surrounding tissues along with the cyst capsule. In this case, a channel is formed for the passage of the contents of the gland. Marsupialization is performed only after the acute process has been treated with antibiotics and the abscess has been drained.
If this measure is also ineffective, the woman is offered a more radical operation - complete removal (exterpation) of the Bartholin gland.
Sufficient personal hygiene, barrier methods of contraception and timely treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease can keep a woman healthy and prevent the development of diseases such as bartholinitis.
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