Bartholinitis is a gynecological disease of the large gland of the vaginal vestibule, which occurs as a result of an infectious and inflammatory process. Very often you can hear the question: “bartholin gland: what is it?” The purpose of the bartholin gland in moistening the vaginal mucosa based on secret secretions is very important. With bartholinitis, the gland tissue and the outflow itself are affected. The causative agents of bartholinitis include gonococci, staphylococci, Trichomonas, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. And if a woman has never encountered the disease bartholinitis, it’s better for her not to know.
The content of the article:
What is bartholinite?
Classification of bartholinite
What is chronic bartholinitis?
Causes of bartholinitis
Symptoms of acute bartholinitis
Treatment of bartholinitis
Prevention of bartholinitis
Bartholinitis
What is bartholinite?
Bartholinitis is an inflammation of the bartholin gland, the treatment of this ailment requires special attention. A very vulnerable bartholin gland is located in the external structure of the vagina, the inflammation of which leads to very unpleasant consequences. This disease is typical for women of any age, but girls from 20 to 35 years old are especially susceptible to it.
Classification of bartholinite
Bartholinitis can manifest in 2 main forms: chronic and acute.
Classification of acute bartholinitis:
false abscess. It can be primary and secondary. The primary becomes a derivative modification of the canaliculitis. Secondary is an inflammation of an existing cyst.
a true abscess.
If there is a suspicion of bartholinitis, the symptoms of the disease will be as follows: swelling of the labia, atypical redness, fever, pain when moving.
What is chronic bartholinitis?
Not fully cured bartholinitis can turn into chronic. Chronic bartholinitis is characterized by exacerbations during menstrual discharge or a general weakening of immunity. Unobtrusive pains in the outer walls of the labia are often noted and tissue seals are felt in the gland area.
If you do not attach importance to chronic bartholinitis, then there is a risk of cyst formation with exudate.
Diagnosis of the disease of the bartholin gland consists of a general gynecological examination, anamnesis, bacterioscopy, colposcopy, bakposev to determine the causative agent of the disease and to establish the sensitivity of the woman’s body to antibiotics.
Causes of bartholinitis
The probability of developing bartholinitis depends on the following factors:
If the basic rules of personal hygiene are not observed in different phases of the menstrual cycle, bartholinitis may occur (due to the ingress of infectious bacteria into the duct of the gland).
With frequent local microtraumas. These include even the simplest combs, rubbing (with insufficiently moistened sexual intercourse).
When wearing tight and rubbing underwear, there is a violation in the circulation of the secretion of the gland, which leads to its stagnation and vulnerability of the bartholinium gland.
With frequent changes of partners in sexual life, the risk of infection with the disease increases significantly.
With the development of any chronic infection in the body such as pyelonephritis, sinusitis, caries, inflammatory microorganisms easily penetrate the bartholinium gland with the help of lymph or blood.
With any weakening of the immune system, an inflammatory infection has all the advantages for its development and rooting in the duct of the gland.
During surgical interventions in the genitourinary system with violations of health standards.
Symptoms of acute bartholinitis
Acute bartholinitis can be presented as a false abscess and a true abscess.
The formation of a false abscess in acute bartholinitis is formed on the basis of canalicutitis — inflammation of the outflow of the bartholin gland itself. Redness and inflammation appear at the external outlet of the duct, mobility of the upper layer of the skin, swelling is characteristic. When pressing on the flow hole, purulent formations are released.
With strong purulent discharge, the outer extreme canal opening becomes clogged, and there is an abundant accumulation of pus. Such accumulative processes lead to stretching of the bartholin gland, which is accompanied by the formation of swelling, hyperemia (false abscess). After that, the surface of the gland begins to bulge up to the partial overlap of the entrance to the vagina. In this case, a low temperature in the range of 37.5 is characteristic, significant pain during movement.
A false secondary abscess is most often formed on an existing cyst, specifically on its suppuration.
There are situations when bartholinite independently reduces its activity. The painful cycle passes without suppuration, but such cases lead to a re-exacerbation of the disease.
Acute bartholinitis is called true when infectious microorganisms directly enter the tissues of the bartholin gland. In this case, the skin above the abscess is already immobile. The labia swell too much, unpleasant cutting pains constantly occur in the perineum area, inguinal lymph nodes increase. The overall body temperature rises significantly. With special exacerbations of the disease, it can reach 40 degrees. Well-being worsens significantly. The formation of an abscess inside the gland occurs. Simply squeezing out purulent formations at home will not lead to success, since complete emptying of the capsule is impossible. The remaining particles of pus will cause repeated suppuration.
Self-elimination of the abscess can lead to direct infection into the lymph or blood, which can cause sepsis. In order to avoid additional complications at the first suspicion of bartholinitis, urgently contact a gynecologist. The doctor will tell you in detail how to treat bartholinitis and how.
Treatment of bartholinitis
Treatment of inflammation of the bartholin gland in any case does not allow the self-extrusion of purulent formations. Sometimes an abscess can open on its own, which greatly improves the well-being of a sick woman. But even if the bartholin gland is no longer bothered, treatment should not stop there. The patient needs a doctor’s consultation, since the opening of the abscess can be both external and internal (into the outlet stream), which can melt the tissues. If there is the slightest inflammation of the bartholin gland or bartholinitis, treatment is urgently required.
In the treatment of bartholinitis, gynecologists adhere to a conservative type of treatment:
providing bed rest, applying cold to the genital area;
local anti-inflammatory therapy, which may consist of ointment applications, warm sedentary baths;
use of antibiotics;
stationary physiotherapy after the decline of the acute form of the disease;
immunosuppressive therapy.
When treating an abscess in the bartholin gland, an operative approach is necessary. In medical sterile conditions, an autopsy of the abscess itself is performed, and it is removed. This process is accompanied by antibacterial therapy.
And remember: if your diagnosis is bartholinitis, only a doctor can tell you how to treat it.
Prevention of bartholinitis
Prevention of bartholinitis is very simple. The basic rule for a woman should remain regular hygiene of the genitals. To do this, it is necessary to wash the anus, perineum and vulva with warm water before going to bed and after the departure of the stool. It is very important to direct the water jet from the front to the back — from the vagina to the anus.
A couple of times a week, it is advisable to use special means for intimate care, but the use of antiseptic herbal decoctions is recommended only as prescribed by a doctor.
Try to give up tight underwear and do not forget: every self-respecting woman should visit a gynecologist at least once a year.
