Approved Guide
How to Handle Treat Vaginal Cysts Step by Step
When treat vaginal cysts leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
Share:
Link copied to clipboard!
Part
1
Diagnosing and Monitoring the Cyst
1
Consider what kind of cyst you have.
Most vaginal cysts are called inclusion cysts. These small, painless cysts usually go unnoticed and clear up on their own. If you have cysts that you can see on either side of your vaginal opening, you may need to get rid of a Bartholin's gland cysts. Normally, the glands secrete fluids that lubricate the vaginal lips and opening. But, these can become blocked, creating fluid-filled cysts. Less common types of cysts that develop inside the vagina include:
- Most vaginal cysts are called inclusion cysts.
- These small, painless cysts usually go unnoticed and clear up on their own.
- If you have cysts that you can see on either side of your vaginal opening, you may need to get rid of a Bartholin's gland cysts.
- Normally, the glands secrete fluids that lubricate the vaginal lips and opening.
- But, these can become blocked, creating fluid-filled cysts.
2
Watch for signs of an infection.
While most cysts won't cause any discomfort, you may notice signs that the cyst has become infected. It's important to pay attention to these symptoms so you can get immediate medical attention. Signs of infection include:
- While most cysts won't cause any discomfort, you may notice signs that the cyst has become infected.
- It's important to pay attention to these symptoms so you can get immediate medical attention.
- Signs of infection include:
- While most cysts won't cause any discomfort, you may notice signs that the cyst has become infected.
- It's important to pay attention to these symptoms so you can get immediate medical attention.
3
Call your doctor if the cyst is infected or painful.
Book a gynecology exam or contact your primary care doctor. A normal bacterial infection or sexually transmitted infection can make the cysts uncomfortable. Let your doctor know if you have recurrent cysts, even if home treatments work. Recurrent cysts might need to be surgically treated.
- Book a gynecology exam or contact your primary care doctor.
- A normal bacterial infection or sexually transmitted infection can make the cysts uncomfortable.
- Let your doctor know if you have recurrent cysts, even if home treatments work.
- Recurrent cysts might need to be surgically treated.
- Book a gynecology exam or contact your primary care doctor.
4
Follow your doctor's treatment recommendation.
In addition to testing the cyst for cancer, your doctor may want to treat infected cysts. Treatment can involve draining the Bartholin's cyst by making an incision, then keeping it open with sutures or packing, which will be removed after a few days. A tube may also be used to drain the cyst. Your doctor may want to surgically remove a cyst if it returns, is large, or is painful.
- In addition to testing the cyst for cancer, your doctor may want to treat infected cysts.
- Treatment can involve draining the Bartholin's cyst by making an incision, then keeping it open with sutures or packing, which will be removed after a few days.
- A tube may also be used to drain the cyst.
- Your doctor may want to surgically remove a cyst if it returns, is large, or is painful.
- In addition to testing the cyst for cancer, your doctor may want to treat infected cysts.
5
Get regular gynecological exams.
If you have a cyst removed, have the area checked periodically to see if the cyst returns. It's a good idea to be in the habit of getting regular gynecological exams anyway. These can catch cervical cysts and cancer early. The American College of Physicians recommends that women of average risk for cervical cancer get pap smears and exams according to this new schedule:
- If you have a cyst removed, have the area checked periodically to see if the cyst returns.
- It's a good idea to be in the habit of getting regular gynecological exams anyway.
- These can catch cervical cysts and cancer early.
- The American College of Physicians recommends that women of average risk for cervical cancer get pap smears and exams according to this new schedule:
- If you have a cyst removed, have the area checked periodically to see if the cyst returns.
Part
2
Home Remedies
1
Soak in a sitz bath
to reduce swelling. Fill the sitz bath with warm water and place it over the toilet. This will allow you to sit and soak just your genital area. Add 1 to 2 tbsp (14 to 28 g) of Epsom salt in the water, then stir it until the salt dissolves. Sit on the bath for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day for 3 to 4 days.
- to reduce swelling.
- Fill the sitz bath with warm water and place it over the toilet.
- This will allow you to sit and soak just your genital area.
- Add 1 to 2 tbsp (14 to 28 g) of Epsom salt in the water, then stir it until the salt dissolves.
- Sit on the bath for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day for 3 to 4 days.
2
Use an apple cider vinegar (ACV) soak.
More research is needed, but ACV can be used to try to reduce the size and swelling of vaginal cysts. Either run a sitz bath and add 1 cup of ACV or you can soak a cotton ball or swab with ACV. Apply the soaked cotton ball or swab directly to the cyst and hold it there for 30 minutes twice a day until you notice swelling reduce.
- More research is needed, but ACV can be used to try to reduce the size and swelling of vaginal cysts.
- Either run a sitz bath and add 1 cup of ACV or you can soak a cotton ball or swab with ACV.
- Apply the soaked cotton ball or swab directly to the cyst and hold it there for 30 minutes twice a day until you notice swelling reduce.
- More research is needed, but ACV can be used to try to reduce the size and swelling of vaginal cysts.
- Either run a sitz bath and add 1 cup of ACV or you can soak a cotton ball or swab with ACV.
3
Use a warm compress.
Fill a hot water bottle with hot water and wrap it in a clean towel. Place this against the cyst to provide some pain relief. Take care not to burn the delicate tissue in the vaginal area.
- Fill a hot water bottle with hot water and wrap it in a clean towel.
- Place this against the cyst to provide some pain relief.
- Take care not to burn the delicate tissue in the vaginal area.
- Fill a hot water bottle with hot water and wrap it in a clean towel.
- Place this against the cyst to provide some pain relief.
4
Apply an aloe vera and turmeric mixture to the cyst.
Mix 1 to 2 tbsp (14 to 28 g) of aloe vera gel with 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1.42 g to 2.8 g) of turmeric powder. Stir until the mixture forms a paste. Use a cotton ball, tampon, or swab to apply the mixture to the cyst. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes once a day. Don't rinse or clean off the paste; just let it run out naturally.
- Mix 1 to 2 tbsp (14 to 28 g) of aloe vera gel with 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1.42 g to 2.8 g) of turmeric powder.
- Stir until the mixture forms a paste.
- Use a cotton ball, tampon, or swab to apply the mixture to the cyst.
- Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes once a day.
- Don't rinse or clean off the paste; just let it run out naturally.
5
Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
Since it may take a few days for the cyst to clear up, try OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If you feel severe pain that doesn't go away after taking OTC medications, contact your doctor.
- Since it may take a few days for the cyst to clear up, try OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- If you feel severe pain that doesn't go away after taking OTC medications, contact your doctor.
- Since it may take a few days for the cyst to clear up, try OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- If you feel severe pain that doesn't go away after taking OTC medications, contact your doctor.
- Since it may take a few days for the cyst to clear up, try OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
6
Avoid irritating the cyst.
Never rub the cyst, even when cleaning or washing the area. Gentle soaks in the sitz bath or tub are enough to keep the area clean. Never douche, as douching is unnecessary, can irritate the cyst, and is considered to be harmful to your health in general.
- Never rub the cyst, even when cleaning or washing the area.
- Gentle soaks in the sitz bath or tub are enough to keep the area clean.
- Never douche, as douching is unnecessary, can irritate the cyst, and is considered to be harmful to your health in general.
- Never rub the cyst, even when cleaning or washing the area.
- Gentle soaks in the sitz bath or tub are enough to keep the area clean.
Community Q&A
Be the first to ask a question about this guide.
References
- https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/vaginal-cyst
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/vaginal-cysts
- https://ufhealth.org/vaginal-cysts
- https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/s/sexually-transmitted-infections
- https://www.rwjbh.org/rwj-university-hospital-new-brunswick/treatment-care/pelvic-floor-and-incontinence-program/vaginal-cysts/
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/expert-panel-says-healthy-women-dont-need-yearly-pelvic-exam-201407027250
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bartholins-cyst/treatment/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1785201/
- https://www.osmosis.org/answers/bartholin-cyst
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3271691/
- https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/bartholins-cyst
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2567125/
- https://uihc.org/health-topics/vaginal-cysts-polyps-and-warts
Was this guide helpful?
9 people found this helpful
HowDadDo Around the World
Subscribe to the HowDadDo Newsletter
Get expert tips, weekly how-to guides, and dad wisdom delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just good stuff.
Help us build the world's best
dad manual.
Every guide on HowDadDo is written and fact-checked by real people — no AI-generated fluff. Join our community of experts helping dads figure life out.