I’d love to create a thread where more women can share their experiences with bartholins cysts / abscesses because it’s not something I ever learnt in school. The first time I’d been informed was when I was in the emergency department at a hospital , and the next morning I had a marsupialization surgery as my infection from the abscess was so bad it was nearly septic! And the worst part is, no doctor could tell me what exactly caused it , and even reading online I can’t find any main causes. I just don’t think women’s health is taken seriously enough and it upsets me so much. I was only 18 and put through such a traumatic situation, made worse because it was during COVID so I wasn’t allowed to be with my mum whilst numerous doctors were inspecting my vulva.

Please share your own experiences and what you think triggers your cysts/abscess

For me I think the reason I had an abscess was because my partner at the time had prior recovered from glandular fever (mono) and maybe I had a small cut on my vagina whilst he was giving me oral sex. But in all honestly I have no idea. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Also for anyone who has had the marsupialization surgery, how did you recover? It’s been 22 months now and I think one labia is bigger than the other, I think it’s also a lot paler than the other , I actually quite sad that my vagina has changed so much when I’m so young. I guess there’s not much I can do and I really have tried pushing these thoughts aside but I’ve decided to book and appointment with the doctor , hopefully in the next few days just to get it inspected , as I actually haven’t had a follow up appointment or check up since my surgery (partly my fault). Please share your recovering stories, did anyone’s vulva look the same?