Common Misdiagnoses of Bartholin Cyst

A Bartholin cyst describes a blocked Bartholin's gland, which is located near the vaginal opening. The most common symptom is swelling of the labia on the side closest to the vaginal opening. In most cases, a Bartholin cyst is not painful, but larger cysts can be. If the cyst is not treated soon, an abscess may develop, which is usually large and painful. A Bartholin abscess also often causes vaginal discharge and can make it very difficult to sit or walk due to the pain. Therefore, it is in your best interest to get the Bartholin cyst diagnosed and treated right away.

Proper Diagnosis Procedure

Most doctors can diagnose a Bartholin cyst just through a physical examination. Some choose to perform tests to determine the bacteria that caused the infection. This can be done through a culture, which involves swabbing the cervix or discharge. The results take two days to get back, so most doctors start treatment before they know the type of bacteria. This usually consists of sitz baths to drain the cyst, but some doctors may also prescribe antibiotics to fight infection once the culture results are back with the type of bacteria.

Misread Diagnosis

Since a physical exam is often all that the diagnosis consists of, some doctors can misdiagnose a Bartholin cyst. Even those who perform cultures can read the results wrong or may fail to prescribe antibiotics even after the results specify the bacteria that caused the infection. A Bartholin cyst may be confused with a few other conditions with similar symptoms.

The symptoms of vulvar cancer include a lump on the vulva and some pain in the area. These symptoms are similar to the signs of a Bartholin cyst, but vulvar cancer often also involves itchiness and vaginal bleeding. Fortunately, this condition is quite rare, but the bad news is that some patients get diagnosed with it when they really have a Bartholin cyst, causing them to endure radiation and chemotherapy when they do not need it.  

Some patients may also get misdiagnosed with vulvar lesions, which are bumps that sometimes produce watery or bloody discharge. They may signal cancer, or they may be completely benign with no other symptoms. Doctors should do a biopsy and ask patients about additional symptoms before diagnosing the issue, but of course some doctors are not thorough and simply diagnose a Bartholin cyst as a lesion.

Get a Lawyer

If your doctor has misdiagnosed your Bartholin cyst, resulting in delayed treatment that caused complications, you should talk to a lawyer. If you have had to get medical treatment or miss work due to an abscess or other complication of a Bartholin cyst, you may be able to be compensated if you win the case.