Gynaecology · UK
Bartholin's cyst removal, by a specialist gynaecologist.
Office drainage, Word catheter, marsupialisation or complete Bartholin gland excision - matched to whether this is a first painful abscess, a recurrent cyst, or a solid mass that needs a biopsy first.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named gynaecologist, not a walk-in list
A consultant gynaecologist with a high case volume of Bartholin procedures, in a private clinic with same-week availability.
- 02
The right technique for the swelling
Word catheter, marsupialisation or full gland excision - matched to whether it is a first cyst, a recurrence, or a solid mass that needs biopsy.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private Bartholin procedure costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Tell us what is going on and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Office drainage and Word catheter: £550-£950, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gynaecology consultation and assessment | £220-£380 | 30-45 min | Same visit |
| STI screen (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomonas) | £180-£320 | 15 min | 48-72 hours |
| Office incision, drainage and Word catheter | £550-£950 | 15-20 min | Same visit |
| Marsupialisation (Blaikley technique) | £1,600-£3,200 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Complete Bartholin gland excision | £3,500-£5,500 | 45-60 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up and Word catheter removal | £150-£280 | 15 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by consultant, by whether the procedure is done under local anaesthetic in the clinic or under sedation in theatre, and by whether STI screening and antibiotics are needed alongside drainage.
The problem
The right procedure, the right time, the right clinic.
A painful abscess drained with just a knick has a 40 to 50% chance of coming back. A Word catheter or marsupialisation gets that below 15%. We match the procedure to your history.
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A painful, growing swelling?
A hot, tender, fluctuant Bartholin abscess needs drainage the same week - office incision and a Word catheter is usually the right first step.
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A cyst that keeps coming back?
Recurrent cysts do better with marsupialisation than with repeat simple drainage. Excision is reserved for those that fail conservative options.
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A solid lump, not a cyst?
In women over 40, a firm solid mass at the Bartholin site needs an examination under anaesthetic and biopsy to exclude rare Bartholin gland carcinoma.
The journey
From first message to catheter removal - what happens, in order.
One team from enquiry to catheter removal - including STI screening, antibiotics if needed, and the follow-up.
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. How long the swelling has been there, whether it is painful, any fever, and any previous Bartholin episodes.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether it needs urgent drainage, a planned Word catheter, marsupialisation, or STI screening first. Indicative price, honest either way.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Same-week for a painful abscess, one to two weeks for a planned cyst procedure. STI swabs are arranged if the picture suggests infection.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Arrival, consent and a chat with the gynaecologist. Most Word catheter placements are done in the clinic under local anaesthetic.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
15 to 20 minutes for office drainage and Word catheter. 30 minutes for marsupialisation under sedation or general anaesthetic. 45 to 60 minutes for full gland excision under GA.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
A short recovery, written aftercare, and home within a few hours. Sitz baths start the same evening.
- 07
After
Follow-up and catheter removal
The Word catheter stays in for 4 to 6 weeks to create an epithelialised tract. A short review appointment removes it and checks the tract has formed.
Typical end-to-end: same week for an abscess. Word catheter: 4-6 weeks in place. Sex: 4-6 weeks off.
When it helps
When treatment is the right step - and when to biopsy first.
The situations we see most, plus the signs that shift the plan from drainage to examination under anaesthetic and biopsy.
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Painful, fluctuant Bartholin abscess
An acutely tender, red, fluctuant swelling at 4 or 8 o'clock of the vestibule - needs drainage the same week, not next month.
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Recurrent Bartholin cyst
A cyst that has come back after previous simple drainage - marsupialisation or Word catheter gives a much lower recurrence rate.
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Asymptomatic Bartholin cyst
A small, painless 1 to 3 cm cyst can often be watched with sitz baths - we tell you honestly if a procedure is not needed.
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Discomfort with sitting or intercourse
A cyst that is not infected but causes pressure, dyspareunia or discomfort with cycling or sitting is a valid reason to treat.
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Multiple past episodes
Three or more episodes over a year and full Bartholin gland excision starts to look reasonable, once conservative options have been tried.
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Concurrent cellulitis or fever
Spreading redness, fever or systemic symptoms need antibiotics alongside drainage - co-amoxiclav, or clindamycin with doxycycline if an STI pathogen is likely.
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Suspected STI on swabs
Gonorrhoea, chlamydia or trichomonas on the swabs is treated on its own pathway alongside the drainage.
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Red flag: solid mass in a woman over 40
A firm, solid mass rather than a soft cystic swelling in a woman over 40 needs examination under anaesthetic and biopsy to exclude rare Bartholin gland carcinoma.
Procedure options
A family of techniques - matched to your history.
What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits a first abscess versus a recurrent cyst versus a solid mass that needs a biopsy.
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Sitz baths and conservative care
Warm baths two to three times a day and simple analgesia. Reasonable for small, painless cysts under 3 cm with no signs of infection.
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Simple incision and drainage
Quick relief of a painful abscess under local anaesthetic. Fast, but 40 to 50% come back - so rarely offered on its own now.
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Word catheter placement
A small silicone balloon catheter is inserted through a stab incision and inflated. Left in for 4 to 6 weeks to form an epithelialised tract. Around 10 to 15% recurrence.
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Marsupialisation (Blaikley)
The cyst wall edges are sutured to the skin under sedation or GA, creating a permanent opening. Low recurrence of 5 to 10%. Day case.
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Antibiotics alongside drainage
Co-amoxiclav for cellulitis, or clindamycin with doxycycline if gonorrhoea or chlamydia is identified on swabs. Antibiotics alone rarely fix an abscess without drainage.
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Complete Bartholin gland excision
Full surgical removal of the gland under GA. Reserved for recurrent disease that has failed Word catheter or marsupialisation. Carries a risk of bleeding, haematoma, scarring and altered lubrication.
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STI screen and treat
Swabs for gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomonas are taken at drainage when an abscess is present. Positive results are treated on the standard STI pathway.
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EUA and biopsy for suspected malignancy
For a solid mass in a woman over 40, examination under anaesthetic with a tissue biopsy replaces the standard drainage pathway - rare, but the reason we assess before we treat.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of consultant gynaecologists, we picked them.
Consultant gynaecologists at Chelsea and Westminster Private Gynaecology, HCA The Wellington, King Edward VII's, University College London Hospital Private Gynaecology, and various RCOG-registered private clinics.
Selection criteria
How we choose every gynaecologist in our network.
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Consultant gynaecologists with high Bartholin case volumes, not general lists
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Registered on the GMC specialist register in obstetrics and gynaecology
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Access to same-week outpatient drainage and day-case theatre lists for marsupialisation
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Clear pathway to EUA and biopsy when a solid mass raises suspicion of Bartholin gland carcinoma
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Bartholin procedures are common, well-established gynaecological treatments. The things worth planning are the sitz bath routine, the four to six weeks with a Word catheter, and the abstinence window.
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Local anaesthetic in the clinic
Office drainage and Word catheter placement are done under local infiltration. You are awake, comfortable, and go home straight after.
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Sedation or GA for marsupialisation
Marsupialisation and full excision are day-case theatre procedures under sedation or a short general anaesthetic - you will need someone to collect you.
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Sitz baths from day one
Warm baths two to three times a day for the first two weeks help drainage, comfort and healing. Simple soap and water, no bath additives.
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Avoid tampons for two weeks
Pads only for two weeks. No tampons, menstrual cups or douching while the tract is forming.
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No penetrative sex for 4 to 6 weeks
Give the tract and any sutures time to heal. Your gynaecologist confirms at the follow-up when it is safe to resume.
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Word catheter for 4 to 6 weeks
The catheter stays in place to keep the tract open. It can be a little uncomfortable at first but usually settles within a few days. A short follow-up removes it.
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Recurrence is possible
Word catheter and marsupialisation resolve a single episode in 85 to 95% of women. Around 10 to 15% will have a further episode and need a repeat procedure.
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After full gland excision
Excision carries a real risk of bleeding, haematoma, wound infection, scarring and altered natural lubrication with possible dyspareunia. That is why it is reserved for selected recurrent cases.
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Red flags after discharge
Heavy bleeding, spreading redness, fever above 38 degrees, worsening pain or foul-smelling discharge - call the clinic or attend A&E the same day.
Reading your gynaecology note
Your procedure note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the gynaecologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
- 01 Header
Side, size and cyst or abscess
Which side (4 or 8 o'clock), the size in centimetres, whether the swelling was cystic or a frank abscess, and any cellulitis.
- 02 Technique
Drainage, Word catheter or marsupialisation
Which procedure was done, whether pus was drained and sent for culture, whether STI swabs were taken, and whether a Word catheter was placed.
- 03 Findings
Immediate complications
Any bleeding at the time, unusual anatomy, or features that raised suspicion for malignancy prompting a biopsy rather than drainage alone.
- 04 Impression
Follow-up plan
Read this first: sitz bath routine, antibiotic course if given, when to return for Word catheter removal, and any STI treatment plan.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for Bartholin procedures varies by insurer - usually funded when medically indicated. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about Bartholin cysts.
Quick answers on Word catheters, recurrence, antibiotics, and when to biopsy.
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What is a Bartholin's cyst and when does it need treatment?
The Bartholin's glands are two pea-sized glands at 4 and 8 o'clock of the vaginal vestibule that produce lubricating mucus. If the duct blocks, a cyst forms - usually 1 to 3 cm and often painless. If it becomes infected, it turns into a hot, tender, fluctuant abscess. Small painless cysts can be watched with sitz baths. Painful cysts, abscesses and recurrent cysts should be treated - most commonly with a Word catheter or marsupialisation.
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What is a Word catheter and why is it left in for weeks?
A Word catheter is a small silicone catheter with a balloon on the end. Under local anaesthetic, a stab incision is made into the cyst or abscess, the balloon is inserted and inflated, and the catheter is left in place for 4 to 6 weeks. That time allows a lined, epithelialised tract to form so the gland keeps draining afterwards - which is why recurrence with a Word catheter is only around 10 to 15%, much lower than simple incision and drainage.
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How much does a Bartholin procedure cost privately in the UK?
Office incision, drainage and Word catheter placement is typically £550 to £950. Marsupialisation as a day case is £1,600 to £3,200. Complete Bartholin gland excision under general anaesthetic is £3,500 to £5,500. A gynaecology consultation is £220 to £380, and an STI screen is £180 to £320. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Do I need antibiotics as well as drainage?
Antibiotics on their own rarely fix a Bartholin abscess - the pus needs to be drained. Antibiotics are added when there is spreading cellulitis, fever, or systemic symptoms, usually co-amoxiclav. If swabs identify gonorrhoea or chlamydia, treatment follows the standard STI pathway, usually clindamycin with doxycycline or ceftriaxone-based regimens depending on the organism.
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Will removing my Bartholin gland affect lubrication or sex?
Full excision of the Bartholin gland can affect natural lubrication and, if scarring is significant, can cause discomfort with intercourse. For that reason excision is reserved for women who have had recurrent episodes despite Word catheter and marsupialisation. Word catheter and marsupialisation preserve the gland and its function, and are the first-line procedures for almost everyone.
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When should a Bartholin swelling be biopsied?
Bartholin gland carcinoma is rare but real, and is more likely in women over 40. If the swelling is solid rather than cystic, feels hard, does not fluctuate, is fixed to deeper tissues, or does not settle after appropriate treatment, examination under anaesthetic with a tissue biopsy takes priority over straightforward drainage. We flag this at the assessment stage rather than after the fact.
Same-week appointments
A painful Bartholin abscess should not wait. We can usually see you this week.
Tell us what is going on in a short, confidential form. We come back within one working day with a named consultant, a firm price, and an appointment.
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