Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Every once in a while, I get what I would call a cyst or a pimple in my inner labia. You know the kind...doesn't come to a head and just hurts like crazy. We've all had one of those on our face, right? Now imagine it down there. Every movement makes it hurt. The pain from it seems to trigger my PN and make it flare too.

Anyone else get these? Any suggestions for relief?

Emily B.

I used to get these very often. Warm compresses and sitz baths are the best thing i have found to help with this. Also (sorry if this is tmi) but I keep my pubic hair very short down there (but not shaved) and i found this has helped reduce me getting these as often.

Merrie

I keep my hair shorter too. Although, if I try to cut it really short, like I used to before PN, I get in trouble. Prickles and causes a PN flare.

These cysts that I get are on the inner labia, so I'm not sure if shorter hair would help. I thought about a warm compress, but it would hurt too much to have that on my inner labia. I figured it would do more harm than good. Maybe just a good soak in the tub might be soothing. Thanks for the ideas!

Emily B.

Emily B many of us females have had this problem, the only secret I have is to keep hair short and also to soak in alternate hot/cool baths either in a tub or via a compress....and i also use a normal spot cream to encourage the infection to clear.
A few years ago I did develop a large cyst which was incised by my GP...very ouchful but much better afterwards.
Any extra pain causes make the PN scream out even more. I always have my ice on hand to cool things down.

When you get these cysts, are they on the INNER labia, inside the moist folds of the vulva?

Emily B.

I wonder if it could be a plugged sebacious gland. There is a lot of sweat glands there.

There's always herpes (very common) which comes and goes (often for long periods) and is often aggravated by stress (pain). Zovirax (topical and oral) often helps.

Don

smitzel wrote:I wonder if it could be a plugged sebacious gland. There is a lot of sweat glands there.

This is very likely the cause and they're common in that area. Ingrown hairs, and maybe sweat glands will also cause the sebacious glands to act up.

The cyst was filled with fluid that came out when I squeezed it. Ouch! I've done that twice now and it seems to be getting smaller. As mentioned, it must be a plugged up gland. What a pain in my hoo-hoo!

Emily B.

Definitely sounds like a sebacous gland issue. Use warm compresses instead of squeezing. Trust me you do not want to end up with a bigger issue like an infection down there.

Merrie