Bartholin Gland Diseases Workup

Updated: Oct 24, 2022
  • Author: Antonia Quinn, DO; Chief Editor: Erik D Schraga, MD  more...
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Workup

Procedures

In otherwise healthy, afebrile adults, blood tests are not necessary to evaluate an uncomplicated abscess or cyst.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing should be available at the request of the patient; however, Bartholin abscesses are very rarely caused by sexually transmitted pathogens.

Cultures are rarely useful in treatment of abscess; furthermore, routine culturing of drained fluid is not recommended.

The following features are suggestive of Bartholin gland malignancy. Patients who present with any of these features should be referred to a gynecologist for biopsy:

  • Age older than 40 years

  • Chronic or gradually progressive, painless mass

  • Solid, nonfluctuant, painless mass

  • Prior history of labial malignancy