After reading up on the subject...I had what appeared to be a bartholin cyst. It has been present for I guess months. About the size of a pea. I assumed it was an ingrown hair. But it never bothered me. Last week, it became the size of almost a golf ball in about three days, it was hard, lumpy, painful and I could barely walk. Then spontaneously after several warm baths, it burst. Lots of blood. For a couple of days afterwards it kept bleeding every time I wiped. I guess my question is... how long is the lump supposed to stay there? It s still there. 2-3 inches in diameter, with some swelling, and it itches like crazy. I m 44 years old, haven t had sex with a man in over 17 years. I don t know what to do here. Do I need to worry?