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Have Dry Vagina And Found Lump In The Posterior Vaginal Wall. What Could This Be?
Question: I'm a 53 year old healthy post menopausal woman. My husband noticed in me a lump in the posterior vaginal wall, new since last week. It wasn't painful but felt burning and irritated and has felt so all day. No discharge or pain. I tend to get bartholin gland cysts more frequently since menopause and I do have dryness ( we use lubricant with sex). What types of things could this be?
Hi,
Thanks for consulting us.
This is good to know that you are in good health. Let me tell you about some of the common causes of vaginal lumps.
Most common swellings in vagina are vaginal cysts. These are of very different types:
Vaginal inclusion cysts are very common. These are usually small and located in the lower back of the vaginal wall.These may form as a result of injury to the vaginal wall during birth process or after surgery. ( your history of repeated bartholin gland cysts may be very significant here).
You may be having an ulcer or a sore there because of dryness & local trauma due to intercourse.
It may also occur due to infections like syphilis. A typical ulcer or sore caused by syphilis is painless with raised edges. These are often undetected because they occur mostly inside the vagina.
Another variant called Gartner's duct cysts develop on the side wall of the vagina. This duct is present while a baby is developing but often disappear after birth. If some part of this duct persist it may collect fluid and develop into a vaginal wall cyst later on.
Endometriosis ( abnormally located uterine lining) may appear as small cyst in the vagina.
Benign tumors of the vagina are uncommon and may present as cysts. A biopsy is required to rule out vaginal cancer, especially if the mass is solid.
Bartholin's gland cysts are fluid-filled cysts that form in the Bartholin's glands due to blockage of its outflow duct. These glands are located on either side of the opening to the vagina and produce the fluid that provide lubrication.
Gartner's duct cysts occur when these ducts don't disappear as they are supposed to do after the baby is born. These remaining ducts can form vaginal cysts later in life.
Müllerian cysts are another common type of vaginal cyst that form from structures left behind when a baby develops. These cysts can grow anywhere on the vaginal walls and they often contain mucus.
Lumps associated with cancer of the vaginal wall are very rare and the average age of onset is seventy years. But, you must rule this out if suspected clinically.
So, my advice is to see a Gynecologist at the earliest to get a diagnosis & to relieve your anxiety. Your doctor can guide you about the treatment depending upon the clinical diagnosis. You may have to undergo tests like biopsy or swab tests.
Wish you good health.
Thanks for consulting us.
This is good to know that you are in good health. Let me tell you about some of the common causes of vaginal lumps.
Most common swellings in vagina are vaginal cysts. These are of very different types:
Vaginal inclusion cysts are very common. These are usually small and located in the lower back of the vaginal wall.These may form as a result of injury to the vaginal wall during birth process or after surgery. ( your history of repeated bartholin gland cysts may be very significant here).
You may be having an ulcer or a sore there because of dryness & local trauma due to intercourse.
It may also occur due to infections like syphilis. A typical ulcer or sore caused by syphilis is painless with raised edges. These are often undetected because they occur mostly inside the vagina.
Another variant called Gartner's duct cysts develop on the side wall of the vagina. This duct is present while a baby is developing but often disappear after birth. If some part of this duct persist it may collect fluid and develop into a vaginal wall cyst later on.
Endometriosis ( abnormally located uterine lining) may appear as small cyst in the vagina.
Benign tumors of the vagina are uncommon and may present as cysts. A biopsy is required to rule out vaginal cancer, especially if the mass is solid.
Bartholin's gland cysts are fluid-filled cysts that form in the Bartholin's glands due to blockage of its outflow duct. These glands are located on either side of the opening to the vagina and produce the fluid that provide lubrication.
Gartner's duct cysts occur when these ducts don't disappear as they are supposed to do after the baby is born. These remaining ducts can form vaginal cysts later in life.
Müllerian cysts are another common type of vaginal cyst that form from structures left behind when a baby develops. These cysts can grow anywhere on the vaginal walls and they often contain mucus.
Lumps associated with cancer of the vaginal wall are very rare and the average age of onset is seventy years. But, you must rule this out if suspected clinically.
So, my advice is to see a Gynecologist at the earliest to get a diagnosis & to relieve your anxiety. Your doctor can guide you about the treatment depending upon the clinical diagnosis. You may have to undergo tests like biopsy or swab tests.
Wish you good health.
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
Answered by
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