Draining a Bartholin’s abscess with a Word catheter

The aim of this information leaflet is to help answer some of the questions you may have about the treatment of a Bartholin’s abscess. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with your doctor or nurse.

What is a Bartholin’s abscess?
Bartholin’s abscesses are fluid filled lumps that occur when an opening of a gland in the vagina becomes blocked. Around 2% of women will have one in their lifetime.

How can they be treated?
Abscesses that are small or have started to leak fluid often only require antibiotics as treatment. However, if your abscess is larger or doesn’t get better with antibiotics, you may need further treatment. One of the treatments that can be offered is a Word catheter insertion.

What is a Word catheter?
A Word catheter is a small tube that is inserted into the opening of the gland to create a new opening, allowing the fluid to drain away.

What does a Word catheter insertion involve?

• Before having the treatment a doctor will explain the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form.
• The treatment involves making a passage/channel from the cyst or abscess through which the gland can drain. The whole procedure takes around 15 minutes. The area is cleaned and a local anaesthetic is given. A small cut is made in the area of the abscess and a small flexible tube (catheter) with a small balloon at its tip is inserted to create a passage. The balloon is then inflated with a liquid.
• You may feel some soreness after the procedure. We would recommend that you take your normal pain relief for this.

How long does the catheter stay in?
The catheter usually stays in for 2-3 weeks, until the abscess has healed. If the catheter falls out before then please contact Ward 25 Gynaecology Assessment Trauma Unit (GATU) on the number at the end of this leaflet. You will be seen 2-3 weeks after the catheter has been inserted. The abscess will be assessed and the catheter will be removed.

Will there be any discharge from the catheter?
A small amount of clear inoffensive discharge may continue to drain after the catheter is inserted.

Will it affect my life in any way?
You can shower or bathe as normal. You can use tampons or pads. It may be too sore to have sex initially, but once you feel comfortable you can.

Are there any risks involved?
Your doctor or nurse will explain these risks to you before you sign a consent form. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with your doctor or nurse. The success rate of the catheter is 97% but in 3% of cases the catheter may fail.

The most common risks or complications from this procedure include:

• local infection
• bleeding
• incomplete drainage – sometimes the balloon may be too full and may cause some pain so it may need to be deflated slightly
• discomfort and recurrence of the abscess – the risk is very low, 4 in 100 people experience a recurrence

What are the options if I do not want a Word catheter?
Other treatment options will be discussed with you by a nurse or doctor and include draining the abscess under general anaesthetic.

Ward Contacts
You can contact staff on ward 25/GATU on 01274 364438 if there are any complications or you need any advice.