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I have a lump under my bottom during pregnancy and it hurts so much? Bartholin's cyst, a safe and comfortable Oriental medicine solution for management

During pregnancy, there are many changes in the body, and even small discomforts are bound to be felt greatly. In particular, it is not uncommon for people to complain, "I have a lump under my bottom during pregnancy and it hurts so much," which is likely a symptom caused by a Bartholin's cyst. It is a disease that can appear normally, but in the special situation of pregnancy, the worry is bound to be greater. If the uncomfortable symptoms make it difficult to even walk or sit, the quality of daily life drops sharply, and the mother's stress can also affect the fetus.

💡 [Key Answer] The 3 most common causes of "I have a lump under my bottom during pregnancy and it hurts so much?": ① Increased secretion and blockage of the outlet due to hormonal changes during pregnancy ② Bacterial infection and inflammation due to decreased immunity ③ Stagnation of blood circulation due to enlarged uterus and increased pressure in the pelvis Dalimchae Clinic approaches with constitutional improvement treatment, which relieves discomfort by strengthening the body's resilience that is safe for both pregnant women and fetuses.

The Bartholin's glands are small glands located on both sides of the vaginal opening that secrete lubricating fluid. If the outlet of this gland is blocked, the secretion builds up and swells like a water cyst, which is called a Bartholin's cyst. If the cyst becomes infected with bacteria, it can develop into a Bartholin's abscess where inflammation occurs and pus fills, causing severe pain.

During pregnancy, the risk of Bartholin's cysts increases or symptoms may worsen for the following reasons.

• Hormonal changes and increased secretions: During pregnancy, vaginal secretions overall increase due to hormonal changes, and secretions from Bartholin's glands also increase because of this. When secretions increase, the possibility of the outlet being blocked increases.
• Immunity changes: During pregnancy, the mother's immune system changes to protect the fetus, and in this process, the defense against external bacteria may temporarily weaken. This can create an environment where inflammation can easily occur in the Bartholin's glands.
• Pelvic congestion and blood circulation stagnation: As the enlarged uterus presses on the blood vessels in the pelvis, blood circulation around the lower body and vulva is not smooth. Stagnation of blood circulation can make it difficult to discharge waste and create an environment where inflammation is likely to occur.

Due to these factors, when a Bartholin's cyst occurs, you may experience pain, a sense of a foreign body, difficulty walking, and dyspareunia, and in severe cases, it is accompanied by fever.

In Western medicine, sitz baths or antibiotics are prescribed if the Bartholin's cyst is small, and if it progresses to an abscess or is large, surgical treatments such as incision and drainage or marsupialization are also considered. During pregnancy, non-surgical treatment is prioritized considering the impact on the fetus, and even when surgery is necessary, it is often delayed until after delivery.

In Oriental medicine, beyond simply seeing a Bartholin's cyst as a water cyst or inflammation, it is interpreted as a symptom that appears because the balance of the entire body is broken and immunity is decreased. In particular, we see circulation disorders in the pelvic cavity and reproductive organs, chronic inflammation-inducing factors such as 'damp-heat' (濕熱) and 'blood stasis' (瘀血), and decreased immunity as key causes. Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch focuses on managing Bartholin's cysts and preventing recurrence in a safe way for both the fetus and the mother, considering the special nature of pregnant women.

[Oriental Medicine Treatment Related Research Cases]

Although large-scale clinical studies on the Oriental medicine treatment of Bartholin's cysts are still lacking, several case reports and explanations of Oriental medicine treatment principles are continuing domestically and internationally.

In "A Case Report of a Patient with Recurrent Bartholin's Gland Cyst" published in the Journal of Oriental Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2007, it was reported that a positive effect on symptom improvement was obtained as a result of combining herbal medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for a patient with recurrent Bartholin's cysts. In this study, herbal medicine administration, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture were performed on the patient, and a decrease in the size of the Bartholin's cyst and pain relief were observed, emphasizing the importance of continuous observation to prevent recurrence.

Also, in "A Case Report of 1 Case of Chronic Bartholin's Gland Cyst Improved by Prescribing Modified Sosiho-tang and Sosiho-tang Based on Shanghanlun" reported in the Journal of Internal Korean Medicine in 2023, a case of symptom improvement by applying modified Sosiho-tang to control inflammation in a patient with chronic Bartholin's cysts was published. This suggests that herbal prescriptions can help manage the inflammatory reaction of Bartholin's cysts and improve internal imbalances in the body. These researchers explained that Oriental medicine treatment contributes to managing inflammation and smoothing systemic metabolism to help discharge the secretions built up in the Bartholin's glands and prevent recurrence.

Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch performs individual customized treatments prioritizing the safety of pregnant women based on these clinical Oriental medicine principles. In particular, since any treatment must be cautious during pregnancy, we are providing treatment that is not burdensome to both the mother and the fetus through thorough diagnosis, safe herbal selection, and delicate acupuncture treatment.

Dalimchae Clinic applies the constitutional improvement treatment principle to prevent the recurrence of Bartholin's cysts and maintain comfort during pregnancy. The goal is to create a body that doesn't just turn off the symptoms but prevents them from being turned back on. This is very important in treating the root cause of Bartholin's cysts that occur due to immune changes and blood circulation decrease during pregnancy.

Constitutional improvement treatment that strengthens the body's resilience is carried out in the following ways.

• Customized herbal medicine for pregnant women: By selecting medicinal herbs that can be safely taken during pregnancy, we prescribe herbal medicines that have the effect of improving lower abdominal blood circulation, strengthening immunity, and reducing inflammation. This resolves 'damp-heat' and 'blood stasis' around the Bartholin's glands and smoothes the discharge of waste, preventing the occurrence and worsening of cysts.
• Safe acupuncture and pharmacopuncture: We use safe acupuncture points that do not burden the mother and the fetus to promote Qi and Blood circulation and relieve pain. In particular, pharmacopuncture acts directly on the inflamed area to help rapid recovery and at the same time contributes to systemic immunity enhancement.
• Life management and dietary guidance: We provide advice on lifestyle habit improvement and diet management to reduce the occurrence and prevent the recurrence of Bartholin's cysts during pregnancy. This is an essential element in maintaining immunity and creating a healthy body state.

Such constitutional improvement treatment can relieve discomfort caused by Bartholin's cysts during pregnancy, maintain a healthy pregnancy period, and have a positive effect on recovery after childbirth. We are doing our best so that those looking for a Songdo Bartholin's cyst Oriental medicine clinic can experience safe and effective treatment at Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch.

If you fall into 3 or more of the following items, consider a Bartholin's cyst and consider accurate diagnosis and treatment. Especially if you are pregnant, more careful observation and professional counseling are needed.

• A lump or bump is felt on one or both sides of the vaginal opening.
• The pain worsens when the lump is pressed while sitting or walking, or during sexual intercourse.
• Redness and heat are felt around the lump.
• The size of the lump seems to be gradually increasing.
• There are signs of pus coming out or bursting.
• There is more discharge than usual and it sometimes has an unpleasant smell.
• I have experience being treated for a Bartholin's cyst or abscess before.

[Criteria for Determination]

• If 3 or more apply: Bartholin's cyst suspected, review Oriental medicine complex treatment through professional Oriental medicine clinic counseling.
• If 5 or more apply: Immediate visit is recommended, and if you are pregnant, more prompt medical treatment is needed.

Q. Does a Bartholin's cyst during pregnancy also affect the fetus? A. The Bartholin's cyst itself does not cause direct harm to the fetus. However, if the cyst becomes infected and develops into an abscess and the mother experiences pain or fever, it can indirectly be a stress to the fetus, so proper management is important.

Q. Is herbal medicine treatment safe during pregnancy? A. Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch strictly selects only medicinal herbs that are safe for mothers and fetuses when treating with herbal medicine during pregnancy. With a customized prescription considering the pregnant woman's individual constitution, symptoms, and pregnancy weeks, you can safely relieve the symptoms of Bartholin's cysts and increase the body's resilience.

Q. Can a Bartholin's cyst heal naturally? A. A small Bartholin's cyst may naturally burst or be absorbed and the symptoms may improve, but recurrence is frequent and it can develop into an abscess when infected, causing extreme pain. Especially during pregnancy, there is a possibility of worsening due to decreased immunity, etc., so it is better to manage it actively without neglecting it.

Q. Can a Bartholin's cyst recur even after childbirth? A. Yes, Bartholin's cyst is one of the diseases with frequent recurrence. Even after treatment during pregnancy, it can occur again after childbirth depending on the mother's body state or immunity, so it is important to lower the recurrence rate through fundamental constitutional improvement.

Bartholin's cyst is not a problem that will be solved by enduring it. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If approached in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing as they are. We will find the cause together at Dalimchae Clinic.

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This is health information compiled by the Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Songdo Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyunmin, based on women/pregnancy treatment standards (Bartholin's Cyst Column)