[Question #8723] Bartholin's cyst?

40 months ago

Hi Doctors,

Just need your advice if possible all be it, this may not be the way to do it.

I basically need help deciding if I need to have a sit down talk with my wife to keep her safe? That’s my main question that I would like a response to. With that background.

So I’m male, married clearly. In my 30s in the past I have had extra marital affairs with men and women (I’m Bi) but I have limited myself to safer sex activities. The most risky I have ever done is oral unprotected both ways.

I have in the past always been symptomless. My last exposure” was January this year. Nothing since.

I’m January this year my wife got a cyst inside he vagina. On her describing it to me it Caused mild discomfort but not pain. I looked for her it was around the 9ocklock position and clearly visible when she parts her labia.

I tried to get her to seek medical care but she didn’t, and this self cleared in a hot bath around 2 week after it formed. It never got bigger or caused pain.

Could this be a Bartholians cyst and if so is it likely from a STI I have introduced. I know you won’t be able to diagnose for definite but again I’m looking for advice on having to confess to her, id rather not but of this is enough of a sign then I will.

When she got this cyst I started with frequent urination so I tested main STI all negative but I was on doxycycline at the time I have since tested 2 week after finishing doxy and just now so near 3 months after still negative.

I’d like to know your thoughts on this and maybe your thoughts on what you would do in this situation.

40 months ago

My wife chalked it up to having worn a pad for a little longer than usual while on her period. Is this a likely alternative explanation for the cyst?

40 months ago

Sorry to keep adding amendments. Before onset of the cyst me and my wife was not having sex. The time prior to onset was a month before. Does this also argue against STI cause taking a month to show?

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Welcome to our Forum and thanks for your questions. I’ll be glad to comment. Bartholin’s glands are a normal portion of the female genital e tract which communicate with the vagina through a duct. The duct can become blocked to form an uncomfortable cyst which is typically managed in Jaheim way your wife did. While STIs can cause Bartholin’s cysts, the large majority are not related to STI. I doubt that your wife’s cyst was related to your activities with other partners. EWH ---

40 months ago

Hi Dr Hook,

Thanks for your reply was not expecting a reply on a Sunday. Hope you had a good weekend.

I doubt it’s STI related too. So thanks for backing that up.

Just so I know I’m on the right track

1) Would a cyst caused by an STI take a month to form or like other symptoms be more likely in the first few weeks. I’m guessing they form quite quickly.

2) would a cyst caused by an STI likely self resolve in a relatively small period of time and not come back. I’m guessing not likely.

3) if it was a STI it’s most likely Ghonnaria right ? Of which if I ever had it I’d have had obvious symptoms.

4) I would have caught an STI back within three months if it was STI related.

This is my thinking so I’d be interested to here if our thoughts align.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

Straight to your questions but, before I do, let me urge you not to go down to but "..but what if I had an STI..." rabbit hole. There's just nothing to suggest you did.. AND, if your getting "information" off the internet, please stop. The internet is full of misinformation and statements which are out of date, taken out of context, or just plain wrong:

1. There are no reliable data on the time course or Bartholin's cyst infection. It is reasonable to assure that the longer an infection is present, the more likely an infectious complication is to occur.

2. Correct

3. Correct. Well over 90% of men with gonorrhea develop symptoms of urethritis (penile discharge or burning on urination)

4. Unlikely that this time course would have occurred

Please don't worry. EWH

---

40 months ago

Your right doctor (as always)

Can you just clarify what you mean on response 4) I’m finding it hard to follow. Do you mean to say that if doxycycline cured say a Ghonnaria infection I will or won’t be infected again inside 3 months?

Me and my wife are trying for a baby and struggling and every month that goes by I panic more and more and think of every little thing that happened and I attribute it to an STD.

You google “fertility problems” first thing that comes up is STD. So your right I’ll stay offline.

On top of this I also have a very very low understanding of STI so it makes it even easier for me to be influenced by what if questions.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

40 months ago

We provide up to three responses to each client's question. This is the 3rd and final response. Shortly after this response is posted, the thread will be closed

4. This an example of the sort of "what if" question I mentioned, Your exposures were LOW RISK and there is NO EVIDENCE that you were infected. Had you been infected, infected your wife, then been cured and continued to have unprotected sex with your wife, in all likelihood you would have been re-infected.

Hope this helps. Please don't worry. EWH

---