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Why has this happened?

Posted , 3 users are following.

MamaRose
MamaRose

I have been reading a lot of posts about how to treat, what the doctors did, but not one thing about .....why or how did this happen? I am 59 years old, and this is the first I ever even heard about this. I've had this cyst return now 5 times in about 12 months. I've always just treated myself using common sense - getting it to drain.....but I am looking for "the cause" .....Why after an entire lifetime, 4 kids, sexually active, and healthy, am I now being bothered with these cysts? Does anybody know? I am about to go to the doctor and have these things cut out of me.....but is that the best route? I'm tired of these cysts disrupting my life. Help.......anybody........if I could find out what I did to have this aweful syndrome start....then maybe I could fix it?  I simply do not have the time to take 4 or 5 sitz baths a day. I work for a living and get home exhausted. Doctor or not?  Surgery or not? How is this going to affect my sex life?

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • zina97782
    zina97782 MamaRose

    Posted

    MamaRose I'm 33 years old and I have been dealing with these things for three years. My first one started in May 2013 and I'm now to the point to where I'm just ready to tell my doctor to remove the gland.I have had eight surgeries in the past three years and still dealing with it.
    • MamaRose
      MamaRose zina97782

      Posted

      any insight on 'why' or 'how' they started? ....Anybody..??
    • zina97782
      zina97782 MamaRose

      Posted

      I have been trying to figure out how they are started but no luck as of yet but it does say that 10 out of 100 women get it.
  • susan48682
    susan48682 MamaRose

    Posted

    There are various explanations as to why Bartholin glands enlarge.  You can research it online.  At your age, though, you need to investigate this seriously and rule out cancer. One school of thought is that any enlargement in the gland after age 40 means excision.  Another school of thought, however, is that cancer of this gland is so exceedingly rare, that excision isn't necessary.  I had my right gland removed last month.  I am 50 and it recently flared and I consulted with various doctors. 3 said it needed to come out because of my age. They all said biopsies are no longer done and they just take the gland out.  My gynecologist flipped out and said that was ridiculous and she reacted so dramatically - like it was brain surgery.  What I have learned is that it is a minor procedure - but only in the hands of a skilled surgeon.  I had a board certified urogynecologist remove my gland. This is a guy who does a ton of surgeries and removes cysts and reconstructs the female pelvic floor.  Please consult with this sort of specialist, not just a gynecologist. Or see your gynecologist then get a refer to a urogynecologist or an oncology gynecologist.  Some doctors will recommend marsupialization before excision, but this is often a procedure that fails and the cyst returns.  
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