Bartholin's Glands

A blockage or infection of the Bartholin's Glands can be another source for pain. I summarized the article from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1894499-overview. And then scroll down to the way media portrays the female body. From the TV show, "The Doctors," the glands are shown as skittles sitting on top of fruit.

The purpose of the glands is to lubricate the vulva and vagina by producing a thick, mucoid, clear substance with a basic pH. Each is oval shaped and measures 1.5-2 cm on averages with a duct that is about 5mm in diameter. If a gland becomes infected or a duct becomes obstructed, the result is often the development of a Bartholin cyst or abscess that may require medical attention. Treatment options for Bartholin gland cysts or abscesses include expectant management, sitz baths, antibiotics, Word catheter placement, marsupialization in which the cyst is removed, and gland excision.

This occurs in 2% of women. In addition, malignancy of the Bartholin gland can occur extremely rarely, at a rate of 0.114 per 100,000 woman-years.

Surgery for Marsupialization:

From "The Doctors":

This makes me mad - women's genitals being treated euphemistically.