Inflammation of the bartholin gland (the large paired gland of the vestibule of the vagina) is called bartolinitis. The causes of the disease are various bacteria in the form of Escherichia coli, staphylococcus, Trichomonas, etc.
Also, the causes of inflammation of the Bartholin gland may be weak immunity, along with non-compliance with personal hygiene and various disorders that pass from the reproductive system of one person to another.
Thus, the risk of developing such inflammation increases in the following situations:
- Non-observance of personal hygiene, especially during menstruation. This causes infection to enter the duct of the gland.
- The appearance of any local microtrauma in the form of, for example, scratching.
- Tight underwear that breaks the secretion current of the gland Against this background, the secret stagnates and creates ideal conditions for the entry of pathogens. There is inflammation of the bartholin gland. Causes and treatment are interconnected.
- Leading an erratic sexual life at times increases the likelihood of contracting such diseases.
- The presence of foci of chronic infections in the form of caries or pyelonephritis. In such cases, pathogens enter the bartholin gland due to the flow of blood or lymph.
- Failure of the immune system along with general or local hypothermia. A lack of vitamins leads to a decrease in the body's defenses. This contributes to the entry of microbes into the gland itself, and in addition to its duct. The causes of inflammation of the bartholin glands should be identified by the doctor.
- Performing surgical interventions on the organs of the genitourinary system (for example, abortion), which was performed in violation of sanitary standards, as well as due to non-compliance with the rules of the postoperative period.
Description of the disease
The spread of inflammation of the bartholin gland is mostly one-sided. Due to inflammation of the gland, the flow channel can be closed, which prevents the purulent secret from leaving. Pus accumulates as a result, which leads to a significant increase in the channel and the appearance of a false abscess. A person may experience pain. Further, the bartholin gland is able to increase in size. Sometimes it reaches the size of a chicken egg. Inflammation is the result of an abscess and leads to purulent decomposition of the gland itself. It happens that a purulent neoplasm opens and a yellowish-green liquid is released.
Self termination of the disease
Inflammation of the bartholin gland can end on its own and without the occurrence of purulent discharge, then a dense formation will appear, and the gland slightly increases in size. But after some time, inflammation can flare up and spread with renewed vigor. At the initial stage, such a disease does not cause discomfort, there is only a certain seal at the entrance to the vagina.
In addition, there is periodically a burning sensation, and in addition, tingling or slight painful feelings. In the case of further development and spread of the disease, pain in the perineum can intensify, especially during intercourse or as a result of some physical activity of a person. In this case, a person may experience a sharp increase in temperature, there is a feeling of cold.
Photos of inflamed Bartholin glands in women do not look very attractive.
Symptoms of gland inflammation
The main symptom of this disease is redness on the labia near the bartholin gland. With palpation, you can notice the duct of the gland, which with inflammation will be much thicker than the norm, and light pressure will provoke pain. During the disease period, due to an increase in the thickness of the secretion, this duct closes, which leads to additional reddening of the tissues and causes inflammation of the bartholin gland. These symptoms are very unpleasant.
Due to the accumulation of secretions that begin to form pus, the patient has a false abscess of this gland. In the future, a lack of strength will be characteristic along with the periodic appearance of pain in the perineum, in the affected area. Discomfort may increase during a sitting position or physical exertion. Probably an increase in temperature and overall poor health. As for the labia majora, they can also have a reddish tint and become inflamed. Opening an abscess is considered a kind of salvation, as against this background, the temperature decreases and health improves, and the pain gradually fades.
Below we consider in more detail the treatment of inflammation of the Bartholin gland, a photo of which is shocking to many.
Against the background of a chronic disease of bartholinitis, its development is lingering, possibly worsening due to recent pathologies, hypothermia, or due to menstruation. The rest of the time, the chronic type of this disease may not manifest itself. Sometimes there may be slight pain during movement and sexual contact. In addition, chronic bartholinitis is able to provoke the appearance of a large gland cyst at the vaginal entrance.
A photo of inflammation of the bartholin glands does not reflect all the unpleasant symptoms that a woman experiences.
Disease treatment
In especially dangerous forms of the disease, a woman needs to be placed in a gynecological hospital. Against this background, sulfamide drugs are required, as well as painkillers or antibiotics. The resulting abscess is exposed. Upon completion of treatment, it is necessary for the patient to ensure that there is no hypothermia of the body, and it is also important to observe hygiene. It will be useful to treat urethritis in order to prevent the next occurrence of the disease.
To further prevent this disease, you need to continue to carefully monitor hygiene, especially in the perineum and in the genital area. It is also necessary to observe the treatment schedule for urethritis and colpitis, without giving up in any case and not skipping the prescribed procedures.
Therapy of acute bartholinitis at home
As a rule, treatment of this disease is carried out in a hospital. But with a mild course, the disease can be treated at home. The main thing is to follow all the recommendations of the attending physician.
The goal of treatment is to reduce pain and swelling along with the removal of symptoms of intoxication, as well as preventing the formation of an abscess and cysts of the vestibule. For this, local treatment is used, painkillers, antibiotics and antipyretics are prescribed.
Local treatment begins with an ice bladder that is wrapped in tissue and applied to the site of inflammation for forty minutes, then take a break for twenty minutes and repeat the procedure again. And they do it for several hours. In addition, ointments and hypertonic compresses are used.
Ten percent saline is widely used to treat bartholinitis. The basis of its application is the ability to absorb fluid and not destroy red blood cells and tissues. For cooking, take three tablespoons of salt and mix them thoroughly in a liter of warm water. Then a gauze swab is moistened in the solution, then it is applied to the sore spot for forty minutes. The procedure is repeated three to six times a day.
They treat this disease with Vishnevsky ointment or Levomekol. Both of these ointments are also widely used. The ointment is applied to a gauze swab, and then applied to an abscess and fixed. It is better to alternate applications. For example, Vishnevsky ointment is applied at night, and Levomekol is used during the day.
Disinfectant solutions are also used. Mostly, solutions that do not cause burns are preferred - these are Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt and others.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed when the patient's condition improves (usually this occurs on the fourth day from the onset of the disease), and symptoms of general intoxication in the form of temperature and chills decrease. In the treatment process, magnetotherapy is mainly used.
Antibiotic treatment is also provided. The course is ten days. Ideally, antibiotics are used, to which the microorganisms that cause the disease are sensitive. However, it is far from always possible to wait for the result of bacteriological analyzes. In this regard, broad-spectrum antibiotics are practiced in the form of Azithromycin, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, Ofloxacin, Clarithromycin, Ermitromitsin, etc. Also Trichopol and Tinidazole are used. .
In addition, painkillers in the form of “Analgin” and “Baralgin” and anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, “Ibuprofen”, can be prescribed.
Surgery for acute bartholinitis
Indication for the operation is an abscess of the Bartholin gland. As part of the manipulation, a purulent focus is opened and its contents are removed. Then, the resulting cavity is treated with three percent hydrogen peroxide, and for purulent outflow, a drainage tube is introduced into it, which is removed after five days. At the same time, antibiotics are prescribed along with compresses with a hypertonic solution and applications with ointments. During the treatment of acute bartholinitis, it is recommended to observe bed rest, refraining from sexual intercourse, and it is also important to avoid hypothermia.
Treatment of a chronic form of bartholinitis without surgery
This is a rather complicated and, at the same time, lengthy process, since the large gland of the vagina has a sufficiently dense capsule through which antibiotics and other drugs can hardly penetrate. Therefore, in the treatment of the chronic form of inflammation of the Bartholin gland, there are two of the following options: conservative and surgical.
Consider the treatment of a chronic form without surgery. Its goal is to achieve remission, that is, to calm the symptoms of inflammation to perform further surgical intervention. During an exacerbation, conservative treatment is carried out, which corresponds to that used in the acute form of bartholinitis. Immediately after the acute symptoms of the disease subside:
- Conducting local physiotherapeutic treatment. In this case, an infrared laser and magnetotherapy are used.
- Conducting sedentary baths with decoctions of chamomile, calendula, oak bark, sage and so on.
- Reception of general strengthening agents, that is vitamins.
After achieving a stable remission, doctors consider surgical intervention.
Surgery against chronic bartholinitis
The main problem of surgical treatment of inflammation of the bartholin glands is that it is not so easy to open an abscess or cyst. The fact is that after dissection of the tissue, it quickly coalesces, which leads to the fact that the duct closes again. Therefore, the operation is carried out in two versions. They either create an artificial duct of the gland (this is the procedure of the so-called marsupialization), or remove the Bartholin gland (extirpation process).
Marsupialization is the most preferred treatment. Indications for her are frequent exacerbations of the disease, and in addition, large cysts that interfere with sexual and everyday active life. The purpose of the manipulation is the formation of an unbroken channel, through which the secret that is produced by the gland, will be displayed in the area of the vestibule. The steps for this operation are as follows:
- Under anesthesia in the cyst, a small incision is made up to five millimeters.
- The cavity is washed, and then a catheter is inserted into it, at the end of which the ball is constantly inflated. This ball prevents the catheter from falling out.
- Five weeks later, the catheter is removed. This time is enough to form a new duct.
It is noteworthy that after the catheter is installed during rehabilitation, treatment is not required. Relapses of the disease with this technique are extremely rare and, according to various sources, make up from two to ten percent. They are usually associated with repeated infections or catheter prolapse. But the catheter can always be reinstalled, and this is better than completely losing the large gland of the vagina.
The fact is that the removal of the bartholin gland in a woman with inflammation is considered to be a rather difficult and bloody operation, since her upper pole is attached to the venous formation. In addition, after removal of the gland, the natural moisture of the vaginal mucosa may be impaired. True, there are situations against which such a radical measure is the only way out.
Indications for extirpation are frequent relapses of the disease along with repeated unsuccessful formations of the artificial duct of the vaginal gland. The steps for this operation are as follows:
- Under anesthesia, an incision is made with a scalpel on the inside of the labia minora.
- Next, the iron itself is carefully removed and removed.
- Catgut sutures are applied to the incision.
After surgery, rehabilitation treatment is prescribed for ten days. As a rule, phonophoresis is prescribed along with magnetotherapy, applications with ointments and so on. It is important to note that during treatment of inflammation of the bartholin glands, in order to avoid infection of the partner, as well as to prevent relapse of the disease, it is recommended to refrain from sexual contact.
Treatment with folk methods
The pantry of nature has the means to deal with many different ailments, and bartholinitis is no exception. To treat this disease, you can use baths from decoctions of herbs that have an antimicrobial, and at the same time, anti-inflammatory effect. For this, plants in the form of chamomile, oak bark, calendula and other medicinal herbs are suitable.
A good effect of treating inflammation of the bartholin glands at home can also be given by a therapeutic mixture for internal use as a restorative medicine. For the preparation and use of the therapeutic mixture, several cloves of garlic and 300 grams of walnut are taken, then these products are passed through a meat grinder. 50 grams of fennel and one kilogram of liquid honey are added to the resulting mixture. Then everything is thoroughly mixed. Take the finished medicine one tablespoon up to two times a day for a month.
Treatment of inflammation of the bartholin gland at home is best done under the supervision of a physician.
Prevention
Prevention in this case is simple and does not introduce any inconvenience. The main thing is, of course, to observe the hygiene of the external genital organs. To do this, it will be enough directly at bedtime and after defecation to wash the vulva with water along with the perineum and anus. It is very important to direct the flow of water from front to back directly from the external genitalia.
It is equally important that you use a condom every time you have sex, and it is best to have only one partner. Also, do not wear tight underwear. And of course, you need to visit a gynecologist for preventive purposes at least once a year.
We examined the causes and treatment of inflammation of the bartholin gland.