Inflammation of the Bartholin's gland (a large steam gland of the vestibule of the vagina) is called bartholinitis. The causes of the disease are various kinds of bacteria in the form of E. coli, staphylococcus, Trichomonas, etc.
Also, the causes of inflammation of the Bartholin's gland can be weak immunity, along with poor 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:
- Poor 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 disrupts the flow of the secretion of the gland. Against this background, the secret stagnates and creates ideal conditions for the entry of pathogens. Inflammation of the Bartholin's gland occurs. Causes and treatments are linked.
- Promiscuous sexual activity greatly increases the likelihood of contracting such diseases.
- The presence of foci of chronic infections in the form of caries or pyelonephritis. In such cases, pathogenic microorganisms are in the Bartholin's gland due to the flow of blood or lymph.
- Failure of the immune system along with general or local hypothermia. The 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, into its duct. The causes of inflammation of the Bartholin glands should be identified by a doctor.
- Performing surgical interventions on the organs of the genitourinary system (for example, abortion), which was carried out 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's gland is mostly unilateral. Due to inflammation of the gland, the flow channel can be closed, which prevents the purulent secret from coming out. As a result, pus accumulates, which leads to a significant increase in the channel and the appearance of a false abscess. The 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-end of disease
InflammationBartholin's 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 some seal located 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 may increase, especially during sexual intercourse or as a result of any 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's 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's gland. On palpation, you can notice the duct of the gland, which, in case of inflammation, will be much thicker than the prescribed norm, and light pressure will provoke pain. During the period of illness, due to an increase in the density 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 develops a false abscess of this gland. ATthe future will be characterized by a lack of strength along with the periodic appearance of pain in the perineum, in the affected area. Discomfort may increase during sitting or physical activity. Probably fever and general poor he alth. As for the labia majora, they can also be reddish and inflamed. Opening an abscess is considered a kind of salvation, as against this background the temperature decreases and he alth improves, and the pain gradually fades away.
Below, we will take a closer look at the treatment of inflammation of the Bartholin gland, the photo of which is shocking to many.
Against the background of a chronic disease of bartholinitis, its development is protracted, 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 in any way. Sometimes there may be slight pain during movement and sexual contact. In addition, chronic bartholinitis can provoke the appearance of a cyst of a large gland at the vaginal entrance.
A photo of inflammation of the Bartholin's glands will not reflect all the unpleasant symptoms that a woman experiences.
Treatment of disease
In especially dangerous forms of the disease, a woman is required to be placed in a gynecological hospital. Against this background, it is required to take sulfa drugs, and in addition, painkillers or antibiotics. The resulting abscess is opened. At the end of treatment, the patient should monitorso 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 genital area. It is also necessary to follow the treatment schedule for urethritis and colpitis, without giving up in any case and without missing the prescribed procedures.
Therapy of acute bartholinitis at home
As a rule, the 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 to prevent the formation of abscesses and cysts of the vaginal vestibule. For this, local treatment is used, painkillers, antibiotics and antipyretics are prescribed.
Local treatment begins with an ice pack, which is wrapped in cloth 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 this for several hours. In addition, ointments and hypertonic compresses are used.
For the treatment of bartholinitis, a ten percent saline solution is widely used. Its use is based on the ability to absorb liquid and not destroy red blood cells and tissues. To prepare, take three tablespoons of s alt and mix them thoroughly in a liter of warm water. Next, moisten a gauze padin solution, then apply it to the sore spot for forty minutes. The procedure is repeated three to six times a day.
This disease is also treated 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 the abscess and fixed. It is better to alternate applications. For example, Vishnevsky's ointment is applied at night, and Levomekol is used during the day.
Disinfectant solutions are also used. Basically, preference is given to solutions that do not cause burns - these are Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Chlorophyllipt and others.
Physiotherapy treatment is prescribed when the patient's condition improves (usually on the fourth day from the onset of the disease), and the symptoms of general intoxication in the form of fever and chills decrease. In the course of treatment, magnetotherapy is mainly used.
Antibiotic treatment is also provided. The course is ten days. Ideally, antibiotics are used, to which the microorganisms that caused the disease are sensitive. However, it is not always possible to wait for the result of bacteriological tests. In this regard, antibiotics of a wide spectrum of effects are practiced in the form of Azithromycin, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin, Ofloxacin, Clarithromycin, Ermitromycin, etc. Trichopolum and Tinidazole are also used.
In addition, they can prescribe painkillers in the form of "Analgin" and "Baralgin" and anti-inflammatory drugs, for example "Ibuprofen".
Surgery for acute bartholinitis
Indication for surgery is an abscess of the Bartholin's gland. As part of the manipulation, a purulent focus is opened and its contents are removed. Then the resulting cavity is treated with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and for purulent outflow, a drainage tube is inserted into it, which is removed after five days. In parallel, antibiotics are prescribed along with compresses with a hypertonic solution and applications with ointments. During the treatment of acute bartholinitis, bed rest is recommended, refraining from sexual intercourse, and it is also important to avoid hypothermia.
Treatment of chronic bartholinitis without surgery
This is a rather complicated, and at the same time, a lengthy process, since the large gland of the vagina has a rather dense capsule through which antibiotics and other drugs hardly penetrate. Therefore, in the treatment of chronic inflammation of the Bartholin's gland, there are two options: conservative and surgical.
Consider the treatment of the chronic form without surgery. Its goal is to achieve remission, that is, the subsidence of the symptoms of inflammation in order to perform further surgical intervention. During the period of exacerbation, conservative treatment is carried out, which corresponds to that used in the acute form of bartholinitis. Immediately after the subsidence of acute symptoms of the disease, appoint:
- Performing local physiotherapy treatment. Whereinapplied infrared laser and magnetotherapy.
- Having sitz baths with decoctions of chamomile, calendula, oak bark, sage and so on.
- Reception of fortifying agents, that is, vitamins.
After achieving stable remission, doctors consider surgery.
Surgery due to chronic bartholinitis
The main problem of the surgical treatment of inflammation of the Bartholin's glands is that it is not so easy to open an abscess or a cyst. The fact is that after dissection of the tissue, it quickly sticks together, which leads to the fact that the duct closes again. Therefore, the operation is carried out in two versions. Either an artificial gland duct is created (this is the so-called marsupialization procedure), or the Bartholin gland is removed (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 daily active life. The purpose of the manipulation is to form a non-sticky channel through which the secret produced by the gland will be removed to the area of the vestibule of the vagina. The steps for this operation are as follows:
- Under anesthesia, a small incision up to five millimeters is made in the cyst.
- The cavity is washed, and then a catheter is inserted into it, at the end of which the balloon is constantly inflated. This ball prevents the catheter from falling out.
- After five weeks, the catheter is removed. This time is enough for a new duct to form.
It is noteworthy that after the installation of the catheter during rehabilitation, no treatment is required. Relapses of the disease with this technique are extremely rare and, according to various sources, range from two to ten percent. They are usually associated with re-infections or catheter prolapse. But the catheter can always be reinserted, which is better than losing a large vaginal gland altogether.
The fact is that the removal of the Bartholin gland in a woman with inflammation is considered a rather difficult and bloody operation, since its upper pole is attached to the venous formation. In addition, after removal of the gland, the natural hydration of the vaginal mucosa may be disturbed. True, there are situations against which such a drastic measure is the only way out.
Indications for extirpation are frequent relapses of the disease along with repeated unsuccessful formations of an artificial duct of the vaginal gland. The steps for this operation are as follows:
- Under anesthesia, a scalpel incision is made on the inside of the labia minora.
- Next, the gland itself is carefully removed and removed.
- Catgut sutures are placed on the incision.
After the operation, 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 the treatment of inflammation of the Bartholin glands, in order to avoid infection of the partner, as well as in order to prevent recurrence of the diseaserecommend 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 tonic medicine. For the preparation and use of the medicinal mixture, several cloves of garlic and 300 grams of walnuts 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's gland at home is best done under the supervision of a doctor.
Prevention
Prevention in this case is simple and does not bring any inconvenience. The main thing is, of course, to observe the hygiene of the external genitalia. To do this, it will be enough just before 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.
Equally importantuse a condom every time you have casual sex, and it is best to have only one partner. Also, don't wear tight underwear. And of course, you need to visit a gynecologist for preventive purposes at least once a year.
We looked at the causes and treatment of inflammation of the Bartholin's gland.
