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Women's health · Bartholin's Cyst & Abscess · Private clinic in East London

Private bartholin's cyst & abscess clinic in London, same-day women's health.

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling near the vaginal opening; when infected it forms a painful abscess that usually needs draining. Our private women's health clinic in East London offers same-day bartholin's cyst & abscess assessment with a private women's health specialist, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.

Book a private appointment Call 020 7916 0029
Same-day
women's health
Discreet
specialist-led care
No referral
needed

The condition

What is bartholin's cyst & abscess?

A Bartholin's cyst is a fluid-filled swelling near the vaginal opening; when infected it forms a painful abscess that usually needs draining.

  • Painless cyst vs painful abscess
  • When it needs draining
  • Recurrent cysts
  • Discreet examination
  • Treatment options
  • Aftercare

Understanding bartholin's cyst & abscess

Bartholin's Cyst & Abscess: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment

Seek same-day assessment if you have

  • a rapidly enlarging, exquisitely painful lump making it hard to sit or walk
  • fever, shivering or feeling generally unwell
  • spreading redness into the surrounding skin or thigh
  • inability to pass urine
  • a lump with severe pain out of proportion and rapidly worsening
  • these symptoms with diabetes or a weakened immune system

A Bartholin's abscess is one of the few gynaecological problems where prompt drainage transforms the pain within minutes. Rapidly spreading infection of the perineum is rare but serious and needs emergency assessment. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.

Cyst or abscess

  • Cyst — a soft, usually painless swelling on one side of the vaginal opening, from pea-sized to golf-ball-sized. May cause discomfort with sitting, walking or sex. Many need no treatment at all.
  • Abscess — the cyst becomes infected: red, hot, swollen and severely painful, often over one to three days, sometimes with fever. This needs draining.
  • Both occur on one side only. It is not sexually transmitted, though sexually transmitted infections can occasionally be involved and swabs are usually taken.

Self-care for a small painless cyst

  • Warm baths or sitz baths — sitting in a few inches of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day. This sometimes allows a small cyst to drain on its own.
  • Paracetamol or ibuprofen for discomfort.
  • Loose cotton underwear and clothing.
  • Avoid soap, bubble bath and perfumed products on the area; wash with water or a plain emollient.
  • Avoid sex while it is uncomfortable.
  • Do not attempt to squeeze or lance it — this forces infection into the surrounding tissue.

Treatment for an abscess

  • Incision and drainage under local anaesthetic gives immediate relief. The difficulty is that simple drainage alone has a high recurrence rate, because the cavity reseals.
  • A Word catheter — a small balloon-tipped catheter left in place for two to four weeks after drainage — keeps a channel open so a new duct forms. This substantially reduces recurrence and is now the preferred approach for a first abscess. It is uncomfortable but tolerable, and normal activity continues with it in place.
  • Marsupialisation — a small operation stitching the cyst wall open to create a permanent opening — is used for recurrent cysts.
  • Antibiotics alone rarely resolve an abscess and are added where there is surrounding cellulitis, fever, or particular risk. Drainage is the treatment.
  • Recurrence occurs in a proportion whatever is done, and a second procedure is not a failure.

Over the age of 40

A new Bartholin's lump in a woman over 40 should be biopsied or excised rather than simply drained. Carcinoma of the gland is rare, but it presents exactly like a cyst, and simple drainage of a mass that is not a cyst delays diagnosis. This is not a reason for alarm — the great majority are entirely benign — but it is the reason your clinician may recommend sending tissue for analysis rather than just relieving the swelling.

Afterwards

  • Continue warm baths daily while a catheter is in place, and keep the area clean and dry.
  • Some discharge and spotting for a few days is normal.
  • Avoid sex, tampons and swimming until healed or the catheter is removed.
  • Contact us for increasing pain, fever, heavy bleeding, or if the catheter falls out early.

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Book a private women's health specialist appointment

Simple & reassuring

Seen today, in three easy steps

1

Book in a minute

Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most appointments.

2

Seen discreetly, quickly

A female GP or women's health specialist assesses you, with scans and tests arranged in-house where possible.

3

Diagnosis & plan

You leave with a clear diagnosis, treatment and any scan, screening or specialist care arranged.

Book same-day appointment Call 020 7916 0029

Private assessment

See a private women's health specialist for bartholin's cyst & abscess in London

At our private women's health clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private women's health specialist or bartholin's cyst & abscess doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant women's health specialist will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about bartholin's cyst & abscess.

Book a private bartholin's cyst & abscess assessment

Local, private, fast

A private women's health clinic for East London & Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private bartholin's cyst & abscess appointment with a women's health specialist, without the wait or the referral.

Why choose us

Why choose our East London private women's health clinic

  • Same-day, no referral — private GP and women's health under one roof
  • Discreet, specialist-led care with GMC-registered clinicians
  • Scans & screening on site — pelvic ultrasound, smears and blood tests
  • Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
  • Menopause to pregnancy — care across every stage
  • Transparent pricing and a clear plan

Ready when you are

See a private women's health specialist for bartholin's cyst & abscess — the same day.

Book a private bartholin's cyst & abscess assessment in East London: same-day appointments, women's health specialist-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.

Book same-day appointment 020 7916 0029

Common questions

Bartholin's Cyst & Abscess in London: your questions answered

Where can I find a private bartholin's cyst & abscess specialist near me in East London?

Our private women's health clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private women's health specialist or bartholin's cyst & abscess doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.

Can I see a private women's health specialist for bartholin's cyst & abscess the same day?

Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a women's health specialist or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.

How much does a private bartholin's cyst & abscess appointment cost in London?

We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the bartholin's cyst & abscess assessment and any tests before you book.

Do I need a referral to see a private women's health specialist for bartholin's cyst & abscess?

No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a women's health specialist, we will guide you.

Which areas do you serve for private bartholin's cyst & abscess care?

We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.

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In an emergency, call 999. Tower Bridge Hospital London is not an emergency service. Your nearest A&E is The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road E1 1FR — 5 minutes’ walk from our front door.

Areas we serve

Private bartholin's cyst & abscess care in London & East London — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf

Patients visit our Whitechapel clinic for private bartholin's Cyst & Abscess assessment and treatment from right across London and East London, the City and the Docklands — including Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Same-day and walk-in appointments are available and you do not need a GP referral.

Easy to reach — minutes from the Royal London Hospital and Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, and one stop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line.

Private bartholin's cyst & abscess treatment near me? If you are searching for private bartholin's cyst & abscess treatment near me, a bartholin's cyst & abscess doctor or specialist near me, or a private clinic near me in East London, our Whitechapel practice is on your doorstep — walk-in and same-day appointments, no GP referral, and no long NHS waiting list.

Book a same-day appointment or call 020 7916 0029. See our transparent fees. Open 7 days a week, 9am–7pm. Private clinic on Whitechapel Road, London E1 — serving Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Islington, the City of London and Southwark.

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