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What Causes Lump On My Labia Majora?

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Posted on Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Question: I had a lump on my labia majora about a month ago. it looked like a lump inside and red in appearance about a month ago. I popped it and it had pus like a pimple on face. it has been a month but there is a round lump inside the majora. it is not painful. I am worried. I never had this before. Can it be just a cyst or something terrible like a wart or syphilis? I do not have any discomfort or pain. but it did not go away. I have one partner only. We tested negative for STD in October. I had pap smear in October which came normal. I did not have unprotected sex. yet I am very worried since this never happened to me Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Could be a Bartholin cyst!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this lump you reported and all the inconveniences this has caused you. The description of this lump closely matches a Bartholin's cyst. This is accumulation of fluid/secretion in the Bartholin's gland following a blockage of the excretory ducts. This may later on become infected. This lump would be located at position 5(left) or 7(right) o'clock depending on the side that is affected.

I will recommend that you get this lump examined by an OBGYN. This suspicion would be confirmed or another cause evoked. Following these, a specific management plan would be proposed to address this. It does not sound like an STD. do not be too worried about this.

I hope this helps. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services. Feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (11 minutes later)
Dr. Chobufo Ditah,

thank you very much for your reply. I tried to see a NHS sexual health clinic today but was turned away saying it is not an emergency. I am going to see a doctor asap, of course.

there is no pain, just inside a bump like a pea or something like that. I thought if it is just a smth like a pimple then it should disappear but it did not. I noticed yesterday when taking a shower.

I am not sure how to understand the location you specified.

Reading internet medical sites, i got worried more because some do indicate that STD can be a cause for a Bartholin cyst :(. How would smth terrible like syphilis and wart be different from a cyst or similar to it? Can a wart have inside lump?

thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See below.

Detailed Answer:
A wart can develop in the inside. However, it often starts outside. A wart is solid and would not be soft so much that you could have successfully broke open it the first time.

The problem with internet sites is that they do not personalise information. They generalize and scare persons even more. disregard all of that and get to hear what the doctors say after a complete examination.

The positions is like labeling all around the vaginal like a wall clock. Bartholin glands/cysts would probably occupy positions 5 and 7.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (21 minutes later)
Hi again,

thank you so much for your help again. I understand that information on internet is not personalized and it does scare a lot, to be honest, making you feel really paranoid and dysfunctional until a specialist looks at you. this lump is not just embarrassing but scary to experience :(. I appreciate that you tell me not to worry and I do hope it is nothing serious to worry about.

the appearance now is just there is still a lump inside.

What is the difference between sebaceous cyst and Bartholin cyst on the labia in terms of how it looks, feels, other symptoms, causes?

I am not sure if I understood you right. I did not mean if a wart can be inside the vagina. As far as I understand that a cyst feels like a lump inside the wall of the labia. I meant that can a wart feel like that as well a lump inside the wall of the labia similar to a cyst or is wart forms on the surface only whether inside the vagina or outside on the labia? Does a wart look different?

How about something like syphilis? scary to think about it even

the fact that pus came out and yes it was not hard to pop it and very similar to a pimple how it popped and the content, how can it be interpreted/understood?

thank you very much

doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
See below.

Detailed Answer:
1. Warts grow from outside in and never the other way round. It is impossible to observe such. their surfaces are never smooth.

2. A sebaceous cyst originates from a sebaceous gland. This is common around hair follicles and oily parts of the body. It can occur any where on the body. A Bartholin's cyst only occur in the vaginal. The site is the main differentiating aspect.

3. Syphilis presents with an ulcer and not otherwise. This is not a possible presentation of syphilis.

4. Pus always signifies an infection. However, we need to examine it to tell what the cause and nature of infection is.

Feel free to ask for more clarifications. Did you check the position of the lump on the "vaginal" clock? Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (11 hours later)
Hi again,

1) I did check the location. I am not sure if i am right but it looks to me that it is not 5 or 7, but a higher location such as more like 9. What does it mean? If it is a cyst caused by blockage and it is not much to worry about, can it only be located 5 or 7? if mine is not located there, does it mean i should worry?

2) Can it be caused by other reasons other than STI and STD, like hair follicles, shaving, etc? All i can think of some bad causes only especially that it seems location of a lump seems to be important.

3) how about other nasty STD like gonnarea, tripa or STIs like chlamadya? NHS links B. cyst to bacteria infections for STI and STD. I did not have an intercourse without a condom. that was in March and before that in October. i only had one partner and I do not have a reason to suspect he would lie to me but of course I can only be sure of myself even though we have a committed relationship. I am still very worried about it despite the fact that you have been helping me a lot. I am still very paranoid and can think of only bad things. In general, i know he is very hygienic, and would not do things behind my back, but I know 100% that I did not have any other relationship and did not have unprotected sex without a condom not only with him, but with any man at all. Unfortunately, there is no opportunity to see a doctor before Tuesday and this fact gives me a lot of anxiety, worry, and breakdown from panic

thank you

doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
See below

Detailed Answer:
Please;, you need risk factors and exposition to STDs before you can get them. You have not reported any and I have no reasons to rate this possibility that high.

It is true that STDs are possible causes of Bartholin's cyst but they are not the sole cause. In your case, it would be unlikely.

Bartholin cysts is often a benign condition. Complete cure guaranteed with no longterm complications should the diagnosis be confirmed. There is no emergency here and I will not be worried even if you are not able to see a doctor in the next several weeks for this.

It is okay to get concerned when you are diagnosed of a disease. But being unable to feel good because of how paranoid you are in itself is a bigger problem than what you have reported. Why don't you be fair to yourself and stay relaxed.

I maintain the possibility of an STD is very low. The position changes a lot with swelling. Reason why that alone cannot be the final diagnostic tool.

I wish you well.
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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What Causes Lump On My Labia Majora?

Brief Answer: Could be a Bartholin cyst! Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query. I am so sorry to hear about this lump you reported and all the inconveniences this has caused you. The description of this lump closely matches a Bartholin's cyst. This is accumulation of fluid/secretion in the Bartholin's gland following a blockage of the excretory ducts. This may later on become infected. This lump would be located at position 5(left) or 7(right) o'clock depending on the side that is affected. I will recommend that you get this lump examined by an OBGYN. This suspicion would be confirmed or another cause evoked. Following these, a specific management plan would be proposed to address this. It does not sound like an STD. do not be too worried about this. I hope this helps. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services. Feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be.