A Word catheter is a small silicone tube with an inflatable balloon on one end, designed specifically to treat Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses. It’s named after Buford Word, the physician who first described its use in 1968. The device is inserted into the cyst or abscess after drainage, then left in place for several weeks so the body forms a permanent opening that prevents the cyst from coming back.
How the Device Works
The Bartholin glands sit on either side of the vaginal opening and produce fluid that helps with lubrication. When the duct of one of these glands gets blocked, fluid backs up and forms a cyst. If that cyst becomes infected, it turns into a painful abscess. Simply draining the fluid provides temporary relief, but the duct often seals shut again, and the cyst returns.
The Word catheter solves this by keeping the drainage pathway open long enough for the body to line it with skin cells, a process called epithelialization. Once that new lining forms, the tract stays open permanently, functioning like a new duct for the gland. The balloon at the tip of the catheter holds the device in place inside the cavity while this healing happens.
Physical Specifications
The catheter itself is only about 5.5 centimeters (roughly 2 inches) long. It’s made entirely of silicone, which makes it flexible and generally well tolerated by the body. The balloon at the tip holds about 3 milliliters of saline when inflated, roughly the size of a small marble. A syringe with a needle is used to inject saline through the catheter stem to inflate the balloon once it’s in position. The stem of the catheter stays outside the body, typically tucked against the skin.
What the Placement Feels Like
The procedure is usually done in a clinic or emergency department, not an operating room. A small incision is made on the inner surface of the cyst or abscess to drain the fluid. The Word catheter is then inserted through that opening, and the balloon is inflated to keep it from slipping out. Local anesthesia numbs the area during the incision, though if an abscess is severely inflamed, the injection itself can be uncomfortable. The whole process typically takes just a few minutes.
Once placed, you may feel some pressure or mild discomfort from the catheter, but most people tolerate it well. The free end of the catheter sits just inside the vaginal opening, and while it can feel odd at first, it’s small enough that it doesn’t interfere with most daily activities like walking, sitting, or bathing.
How Long It Stays In
The catheter needs to remain in place for at least four weeks, though some providers recommend four to six weeks. This timeframe gives the body enough time to fully line the new drainage tract with skin cells. If the catheter falls out too early, before that lining has formed, the tract can close and the cyst may recur.
Premature displacement is one of the more common issues. The balloon can deflate or the catheter can slip out during physical activity. If this happens within the first couple of weeks, your provider may need to replace it.
Recovery and Daily Life With the Catheter
You can return to most normal activities relatively quickly after placement. Warm water soaks (sitz baths) are typically recommended starting one to two days after the procedure to promote healing and keep the area clean. Sexual intercourse is off limits until the catheter is removed, since it could dislodge the device or irritate the healing tissue.
Showering and gentle bathing are fine. Most people can go back to work within a day or two, depending on their comfort level. The catheter sits discreetly enough that it doesn’t show through clothing, and a panty liner can help keep it tucked in place.
Why It’s Preferred Over Other Options
The main alternative to a Word catheter is a surgical procedure called marsupialization, where the cyst wall is opened, drained, and then stitched open to create a permanent pouch. Marsupialization is effective, but it requires a larger incision, often needs general or regional anesthesia, and involves a longer recovery. It’s typically performed in an operating room rather than a clinic.
The Word catheter offers a less invasive path to the same goal: creating a lasting drainage tract so the cyst doesn’t keep returning. It can be placed in an office visit, requires only local anesthesia, and avoids stitches. For these reasons, it’s often the first-line treatment for Bartholin cysts and abscesses, with marsupialization reserved for cases where the catheter fails or falls out repeatedly.
Simple incision and drainage, without placing a catheter or performing marsupialization, provides the fastest relief but has the highest recurrence rate. Without anything holding the tract open, the tissue heals shut and the cyst often refills within weeks or months.
Possible Complications
The Word catheter is generally low risk, but a few things can go wrong. The most common issue is the catheter falling out before the tract has fully formed. This doesn’t cause harm, but it means the procedure may need to be repeated. Infection at the insertion site is possible, though warm soaks help reduce this risk. Some people experience persistent discomfort or a feeling of pressure that makes the catheter hard to tolerate for the full four to six weeks.
Because the device is made of silicone rather than latex, allergic reactions to the material are rare. Silicone catheters also have lower rates of balloon fragmentation compared to latex ones, which means there’s less risk of small pieces breaking off inside the body if the balloon were to rupture.
In uncommon cases, the cyst or abscess recurs even after a full course of catheter treatment. When this happens, your provider may recommend marsupialization or, rarely, surgical removal of the entire Bartholin gland.