A Bartholin cyst typically feels like a round, firm bump just under the skin near the vaginal opening. Small ones may feel like nothing more than a marble-sized lump with minor irritation, while larger or infected ones can become intensely painful and interfere with everyday activities like sitting and walking.
Where You’ll Feel It
The Bartholin glands sit on either side of the vaginal opening, roughly at the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions. A cyst forms when the tiny duct draining one of these glands gets blocked, trapping fluid inside. Because of this location, the lump shows up on one side of the labia, close to the vaginal entrance. It almost always appears on just one side, not both.
What an Uncomplicated Cyst Feels Like
Many Bartholin cysts stay small and cause little trouble. You might notice a round, solid bump under the skin of the labia that feels smooth and slightly movable. It is often completely painless. Some people discover one only by chance, during a shower or while wiping. At this stage, the main sensation is mild pressure or awareness that something is there, rather than actual pain. Minor irritation during activities that press on the area, like cycling or wearing tight clothing, is common but manageable.
What Changes When It Gets Infected
The experience shifts dramatically if bacteria get into the blocked gland and an abscess forms. This can happen quickly, sometimes developing over just a few days. The lump grows larger, and the skin over it becomes red, swollen, and noticeably warm to the touch. Instead of the dull awareness of a painless cyst, you feel a deep, throbbing tenderness that worsens with any pressure on the vulva.
An infected Bartholin cyst can also bring systemic symptoms. Fever and chills sometimes accompany the local swelling, and you may notice discharge draining from the cyst. The lump itself feels tighter and more tense than an uninfected cyst because of the buildup of pus inside.
How It Affects Daily Activities
A small, painless cyst rarely disrupts your routine. But once a cyst grows or becomes infected, the impact on daily life can be significant. Walking becomes uncomfortable because each stride shifts the tissue around the swollen area. Sitting puts direct pressure on the lump, which can cause sharp or aching pain. Sexual intercourse is often painful, and even inserting a tampon or wiping after using the restroom can be enough to trigger discomfort. Some people describe a constant feeling of vaginal pressure, as though something is pushing outward from inside the labia.
How It Differs From Other Vulvar Lumps
Not every bump near the vagina is a Bartholin cyst. A few features help distinguish it. Location is the biggest clue: Bartholin cysts sit specifically at the lower part of the labia, near the vaginal opening, rather than on the outer labia or the mons pubis where other types of cysts (like blocked oil glands) tend to appear. Bartholin cysts also tend to feel deeper under the skin rather than sitting right at the surface. A blocked oil gland or ingrown hair usually forms a smaller, more superficial bump that you can see easily, while a Bartholin cyst may be more felt than seen until it grows.
If the lump is on the upper portion of the labia, far from the vaginal opening, or if it has a visible whitehead, it is more likely something else entirely.
What Helps With the Discomfort
Soaking in a few inches of warm water, sometimes called a sitz bath, several times a day for three or four days can ease the pressure and encourage a small infected cyst to drain on its own. The warm water helps keep the area clean, softens the tissue over the blocked duct, and reduces swelling. Many people feel noticeable relief within the first day or two of consistent soaking.
If a cyst does rupture or drain, either on its own or after sitz baths, the shift is usually immediate: the intense pressure and throbbing drop off quickly as the trapped fluid releases. You may notice discharge afterward, which is normal as long as the area continues to be kept clean. Cysts that don’t respond to warm soaks, that grow rapidly, or that come with fever generally need medical drainage.
Recurrence and What to Expect
Bartholin cysts have a tendency to come back, even after they drain or are treated. If you’ve had one before, you’ll likely recognize the familiar feeling of a firm lump forming in the same spot. Recurrent cysts often follow the same pattern: painless at first, then potentially progressing to tenderness and swelling if the duct blocks again. Knowing what the early stages feel like gives you a head start on beginning sitz baths before the cyst has a chance to grow or become infected.