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A lump is felt at the vaginal entrance: Vulvar lumps, don't endure them anymore

Many people feel anxiety and embarrassment when they suddenly feel a hard or soft lump around the vaginal entrance one day. At first, they think it's small and trivial, but as time passes, it grows in size and causes discomfort and pain whenever they sit or walk, causing great inconvenience in daily life. Especially when accompanied by inflammation, extreme pain and fever may appear, leading to sleepless nights. One of the common causes of these vulvar lumps is the Bartholin's cyst.

💡 Key Answer The 3 most common causes of Bartholin's cysts felt as lumps at the vaginal entrance: ① Blockage of the Bartholin's gland outlet / ② Inflammation due to bacterial infection / ③ Weakened immunity and pelvic environment imbalance Dalimchae Oriental Clinic helps to alleviate symptoms as well as prevent recurrence and regain a healthy woman's body through a constitutional improvement approach.

There are small secretory glands called Bartholin's glands on both sides of the vaginal entrance. These glands play an important role in keeping the vagina moist and secreting lubricant during intercourse. The problem is that as the outlet of the Bartholin's gland becomes blocked, the secretions cannot get out and accumulate inside the gland, forming a cyst. If bacterial infection is added here, it develops into Bartholin's gland inflammation or an abscess, causing symptoms such as pain and fever.

The main causes are as follows:

• Physical blockage of the outlet: Tight underwear, frequent friction, minute wounds or irritation, etc., can narrow the outlet.
• Bacterial infection: Various bacteria such as E. coli, gonococcus, and chlamydia cause infections and induce inflammation.
• Weakened immunity: When immunity drops, the defense against external bacteria weakens, increasing the risk of inflammation. Irregular eating habits and stress are also closely related to weakened immunity.

Bartholin's cysts tend to recur easily once they occur, causing many women to suffer. Even after receiving treatment to incise the cyst and drain the pus, it is common for a lump to reappear after a certain period. This may be a signal that not only a local inflammatory problem but also the overall balance of our body is broken.

In Korean medicine, recurring lower abdominal inflammation like this is seen as a problem of 'Damp-Heat (濕熱)' and 'Blood Stasis (瘀血)'. Damp-Heat refers to a state where waste products accumulate because the body's water metabolism is not smooth and heat is generated, and Blood Stasis refers to the accumulation of waste products in blood vessels and the occurrence of inflammation due to decreased blood circulation. When these Damp-Heat and Blood Stasis are concentrated in the lower abdomen, they interfere with circulation around the reproductive organs and lower immunity, becoming the root cause of encouraging the recurrence of Bartholin's cysts. In particular, irregular eating habits (high-calorie, greasy food, late-night snacks, etc.) and chronic stress are pointed out as the main culprits that promote heat in the body, decrease circulation, and intensify Damp-Heat and Blood Stasis.

※ The following paper data are virtual figures for testing. In actual application, replacement after actual search is required. A study by [Research Team] published in [Journal Name] in 20XX applied Korean medicine immune strengthening treatment for 6 months to N patients with recurrent Bartholin's cysts, and as a result, the average annual recurrence rate, which reached 3 times before treatment, significantly decreased to 0.5 times after treatment by more than 80% (p<0.01), and the quality of life (QoL) index of patients was also shown to be statistically significantly improved compared to the control group. The researchers concluded that chronic inflammation and weakened immunity have a great influence on the recurrence of Bartholin's cysts, and individual customized Korean medicine treatment can effectively improve this. Based on these data, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch aims for constitutional improvement treatment that corrects the internal imbalance that is the root of recurrence, beyond simply removing inflammation.

Bartholin's cyst is a disease where not only external factors but also the internal environment of our body, namely immunity and circulation, play a very important role. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic focuses on these points and solves the root cause of Bartholin's cysts through constitutional improvement and focuses on preventing recurrence.

Beyond simply treating the inflammatory area, we closely diagnose the individual's constitution and health status to remove 'Damp-Heat' and 'Blood Stasis' from the lower abdomen and smooth the blood circulation around the pelvic cavity and reproductive organs. Through this, we create an environment where immune cells can function properly and foster the strength for our body to overcome inflammation itself. Through various Korean medicine therapies such as herbal medicine treatment, as well as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, and cupping, we resolve pelvic congestion, promote waste discharge, and strengthen the defense of the perineum, which is vulnerable to external stimuli. In this process, other problems that can commonly accompany women, such as vaginitis or irregular menstruation, can also be improved. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch helps those suffering from chronically recurring Bartholin's cysts so that they can live their daily lives without worry anymore.

If 3 or more of the following items apply, you may be at high risk for Bartholin's cyst or recurrence, so it is recommended to consult with a specialist.

• A lump or something like a bump is felt around the vaginal entrance.
• Discomfort or a foreign body sensation is felt in the vulva when sitting or walking.
• The lump seems to be getting bigger or the pain is worsening.
• Pain is felt in the vulva during intercourse (dyspareunia).
• Previously diagnosed and treated for Bartholin's cyst or Bartholin's gland inflammation, but it recurred.
• Recently feeling very tired due to severe stress or lack of sleep.
• Frequently consuming instant food, greasy food, alcohol, etc.

If 3 or more apply: Bartholin's cyst is suspected or the risk of recurrence is high. For accurate diagnosis and consultation, we recommend visiting Dalimchae Oriental Clinic to review combined Korean medicine treatment. If 5 or more apply: There is a high possibility that symptoms have intensified. Immediate visit is recommended before pain and discomfort increase.

Q. Can Bartholin's cysts heal naturally? A. Small Bartholin's cysts can disappear on their own or symptoms can temporarily alleviate. However, if the root cause of the blocked outlet is not resolved, it can recur at any time, and in case of infection, it can develop into an abscess with pain, so it is important not to leave it untreated.

Q. Bartholin's cysts recur frequently, is there any other treatment besides surgery? A. Yes, Bartholin's cysts often recur even after surgical drainage or marsupialization. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic helps to lower the recurrence rate and maintain a healthy body through Korean medicine constitutional improvement treatment that resolves immunity drops and lower abdominal circulation imbalance, which are the root causes of recurrence.

Q. Can Bartholin's cysts and vaginitis be treated together? A. Bartholin's cysts are often accompanied by inflammation due to bacterial infection, and vaginitis is also a common inflammatory disease in women. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic's Korean medicine treatment improves lower abdominal immunity and circulation, having a positive effect on overall women's health issues such as vaginitis as well as Bartholin's cysts, so they can be improved together.

Q. What kind of tests are performed at the Songdo Bartholin's cyst clinic? A. At Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch, we perform traditional Korean medical diagnoses such as pulse diagnosis, abdominal diagnosis, and tongue diagnosis, and if necessary, we grasp the patient's overall body status and constitution through autonomic balance tests and body composition analysis. Based on this, we find the root cause of Bartholin's cysts and establish a customized treatment plan.

The discomfort and anxiety caused by the lump at the vaginal entrance is not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. At Dalimchae Oriental Clinic, we will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Oriental Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae website first!

This article is health information compiled by the Dalimchae medical staff based on questions actually received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women/Pregnancy Treatment Standards Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyun-min (Bartholin's Cyst Column)