Harmless lumps and bumps can develop just about anywhere on the body, including the vagina. While some cysts are rather small and painless, vaginal cysts can cause pain, discomfort, and other issues. Here’s what you should know about vaginal cysts, including when to turn to a gynecologist for treatment.

There are Different Kinds of Vaginal Cysts

Most vaginal cysts can be found under or within the lining of the vagina. Types of vaginal cysts include:

There are several reasons a vaginal cyst may develop. Trauma is most common in cysts that develop in the vaginal walls. This may be the result of childbirth or surgery.

Cysts that develop on the outer area of the vagina such as a Bartholin’s gland cyst, may be the result of a bacterial infection or a sexually transmitted disease. Sometimes clogged glands or ducts are also to blame.

Vaginal Cysts Don’t Often Cause Symptoms

Unless you’re dealing with an infected Bartholin’s gland cyst, you probably won’t even know if you have a vaginal cyst. Most of the time, these cysts are detected by a gynecologist during a routine exam. Most cysts aren’t painful; however, some may cause pain with sex. If you’re dealing with a painful lump, this could be a sign of infection.

Most Vaginal Cysts Don’t Need Treatment

Since most vaginal cysts remain small and don’t cause problems they often don’t need to be removed; however, if the cyst continues to grow, cause pain, or show signs of infection, then you’ll want to see your gynecologist. External vaginal cysts can be eased with simple home care such as a warm soak or sitz bath. If the cyst is infected, antibiotics may be prescribed. Sometimes the cyst will need to be drained to heal (this is more common in Bartholin’s gland cysts). Most of the time surgery is not recommended for removing a vaginal cyst.

If you notice any unusual lumps, bumps, or lesions in the vaginal areas, it’s always a good idea to turn to your OBGYN to find out what’s going on.

Pregnancy can leave women more vulnerable to other complications, such as UTI. A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is the result of bacteria in the urethra that leads to an infection. This can happen for several reasons, including, sexual activity, improper hygiene, and dehydration. UTIs are common during pregnancy because of increased pressure on the bladder and urinary tract. In addition, it can be harder for patients to identify symptoms of UTI during pregnancy because of their initial similarities to some pregnancy symptoms. Be on the lookout for the following:

Symptoms of UTI During Pregnancy:

A UTI can be uncomfortable and unwanted during the best of times, but it is especially undesirable during pregnancy. If any of the above symptoms occur, you must contact your provider. During pregnancy, it is better to lean on the safe side and report any new symptoms, even if you are unsure. Your provider will be able to perform an exam and test your urine sample for evidence of infection. 

Seeking treatment for a UTI is important because the prolonged infection may spread to the kidneys, which is a much higher risk issue. Treatment for a UTI will include a course of antibiotics prescribed by your provider, which are safe to take during pregnancy when needed. 

Antibiotics must be taken properly (according to the instructions given by your provider and the pharmacist) as well as taken in their entirety. Stopping antibiotic treatment early can cause a relapse in symptoms or worsening infection. While you are recovering from a UTI, make sure to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid sexual activity until your provider clears you of infection. 

To prevent future infections, wipe from front to back after using the bathroom and after sex and drink water frequently to stay hydrated. Proper hygiene can keep bacteria away from the urinary tract and sufficient fluids can flush any missed bacterial particles from the body, ensuring a healthy pregnancy.

After waiting months to meet your sweet new baby, the discomfort of the third trimester can be hard to handle. You will likely be swollen, exhausted, and sore––not to mention ready to snuggle your newborn! By the time a woman reaches full-term pregnancy (defined by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as 39 weeks pregnant), she may want to do some things on her own to naturally induce labor. The good news is that these methods are perfectly safe to do at home!

 

To encourage labor once you've hit full-term pregnancy, try the following:

Be sure to consult with your doctor before trying any of the above methods. Your provider will discuss options with you and help you decide on the best course of action to induce labor. Every pregnancy is unique, and ultimately, your baby will come when they are ready. We promise that whenever that happens, it will be worth the wait!

Uterine fibroids are common benign growths that develop within the lining of the uterus. While this problem is common among young women, particularly of child-bearing age, you may be concerned about whether or not this condition could impact your current or future pregnancy. An OBGYN will be your guidepost for providing all the information and care you could need throughout your pregnancy, and with regards to treating uterine fibroids.

What are the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids?

If you have uterine fibroids you may experience:

Not all women with uterine fibroids will experience symptoms, which is why it’s so important to stay up to date with your OBGYN checkups and routine screenings.

Can uterine fibroids impact my pregnancy?

For some women, having uterine fibroids during pregnancy may present a problem, which is why you should speak with your OBGYN and go to all your scheduled prenatal appointments and checkups. While you may never experience any issues during your pregnancy, uterine fibroids may be more likely to result in:

If a woman isn’t pregnant there are certain medications that she can take to help improve symptoms. Surgery may also be recommended to remove more severe fibroids; however, treatment for uterine fibroids in pregnant women is rather limited because many of these treatment options could pose a threat to the unborn child. In this case, bed rest and staying hydrated are two of the best ways for expectant mothers to manage fibroids. Also, talk with your gynecologist about the right pain medications to take to help control your discomfort.

Even though most fibroids won’t cause any problems for most women during pregnancy, an OBGYN also understands what to look for and signs that could put you and your unborn child at risk to ensure that you get the immediate care and attention you need.

Dealing with an abnormal Pap test? This can certainly happen for several reasons and fortunately, most of them aren’t cancerous; however, if your OBGYN does suspect cervical cancer, further testing will be performed to test the lining of the cervix. If precancerous cells are discovered this is known as cervical dysplasia. It can be scary hearing this diagnosis if you don’t have all the answers. Here’s what you should know.

How is cervical dysplasia treated?

The best course of action for treating your cervical dysplasia will depend on the severity of your dysplasia. During a biopsy, your gynecologist will be able to analyze the cervical tissue to determine the level of cervical dysplasia. There are three cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) levels, with CIN I being mild, CIN II being moderate and CIN III being severe.

If you’ve been diagnosed with CIN I, it may clear up on its own without even needing treatment; however, you will still need to see your gynecologist about every six months for a Pap smear to detect further changes or to determine if the cells have gone away.

If you’ve been diagnosed with moderate to severe cervical dysplasia, treatment options include cryosurgery to freeze the abnormal cells, a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to burn away the cells, or a more traditional surgical approach that will remove the cervical cells with surgical tools or a laser. Since cervical dysplasia can return, you must be visiting your gynecologist regularly for screenings and checkups.

Is there a way to prevent cervical dysplasia?

One of the best ways for women to protect themselves against cervical dysplasia is to get the HPV vaccine. This vaccine has been approved to protect against several strains of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine is often administered around the age of 11 or 12, but anyone up to age 26 years should consider getting vaccinated. If you are over the age of 26, you should speak with your gynecologist to find out if getting the vaccine is right for you.

Since any woman can develop cervical cancer at any age you must be visiting your OBGYN regularly for routine checkups and screenings. Don’t put off these important annual women’s health checkups.