ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a case study of a 21-year-old woman who comes in complaining of vulval pain and swelling. This patient has a Bartholin's gland abscess. The greater vestibular glands, also known as Bartholin's glands, are situated at the base of the vestibular bulbs. Clinical features include a unilateral swelling near the posterior aspect of the vulva. This will be very painful especially on movement or sitting and will be erythematous and tense. Other causes of vulval swellings include Bartholin's gland malignancy, vulval haematoma, mucous cyst of the vestibule, vulval fibroma, lipoma, sebaceous cyst and perianal abscess. The abscess must be drained surgically and the pus sent for culture, as well as giving analgesia and a course of oral antibiotics. It is important to note that the area is highly vascular and there can be significant blood loss. Therefore, surgical intervention is usually reserved for a recurrent, large or multilocular cyst/abscess.