A<unk>  occurs when a<unk> 's gland within the labia becomes blocked. Small<unk> s may result in minimal symptoms. Larger<unk> s may result in swelling on one side of the vagina, as well as pain during sex or walking. If the<unk>  becomes infected, an abscess can occur, which is typically red and very painful. If there are no symptoms, no treatment is needed.<unk> s affect about 2% of women at some point in their life. They most commonly occur during childbearing years. When the<unk>  becomes uncomfortable or painful, drainage is recommended. The preferred method is the insertion of a Word catheter for four weeks, as recurrence following simple incision and drainage is common. A surgical procedure known as marsupialization may be used or, if the problems persist, the entire gland may be removed. Removal is sometimes recommended in those older than 40 to ensure cancer is not present. Antibiotics are not generally needed to treat a<unk> . The cause of a<unk>  is typically unknown. An abscess results from a bacterial infection, but it is not usually a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Rarely, gonorrhea may be involved. Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms and examination. In women over the age of 40, a tissue biopsy is often recommended to rule out cancer. The<unk>  is named after Caspar<unk>  who accurately described the glands in 1677. The underlying mechanism of the<unk>  was determined in 1967 by 20th Century obstetrician Samuel Buford Word.
Bartholin's cyst
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Baker's cyst
Sebaceous cyst
Colloid cyst
Hernia
Tarlov cyst
Folliculitis