Written by Dr. Hiruni Pooja Welagedara, MBBS
Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
INTRODUCTION
Many young women get scared when they feel a small lump, ball, or piece of flesh coming from the vagina or near the vaginal opening. They feel shy to tell their mother or to visit a doctor. Please do not be scared. This is very common and it is not your fault. This is not a sexual disease. However, you must see a doctor and get an ultrasound scan. Only a scan can confirm what it is.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? THEY ARE 3 DIFFERENT THINGS
A) POLYP / GROWTH FROM UTERUS:
What it is: An extra growth of soft tissue/ muscle that grows from INSIDE the uterus and comes out through the vagina. It is like an extra small tongue of flesh.
How it looks: Soft, pink or reddish, smooth, tongue-like, hanging from inside. It is solid flesh, NOT a water bag. It does NOT have water or pus inside.
Symptoms: Usually no pain. Sometimes light bleeding between periods, after washing, or after intercourse. It feels like something is coming out when you walk or wash.
Will it go away by itself? NO. It will NOT go away with warm bath or antibiotics. It must be removed by a doctor with a small procedure.
B) CYST - Water Bag:
What it is: A small bag filled with clear fluid/ water under the skin near the vaginal opening. It happens when a small gland (Bartholin gland) gets blocked. The fluid cannot come out, so it forms a bag.
How it looks: Round, smooth, skin-coloured or light yellow, soft but tight like a small water balloon under the skin.
Symptoms: At first, NO pain, NO redness, NO fever. You only feel a smooth, round ball when you touch or wash. Size can be from small peanut to small lime.
C) ABSCESS - Infected Cyst with Pus:
What it is: When the cyst (water bag) gets infected by bacteria, it becomes an abscess. The clear water turns into pus. This is an infection.
How it looks: Very swollen, red, hot to touch, very painful. The skin around is tight and shiny.
Symptoms: SEVERE pain, you cannot sit, walk, or wear tight clothes. Fever, burning feeling. The lump grows very fast in 1-2 days. You may feel throbbing pain.
Is it dangerous? YES. If you ignore it, infection can spread inside to the uterus. You need to see a doctor urgently.
IMPORTANT NOTE: 99% of these lumps are BENIGN (not cancer). They are very common. But you MUST do a scan to confirm.
HOME CARE - WARM SITZ BATH (Only if doctor advises)
For small, non-infected cysts, doctor may advise a warm sitz bath.
Use clean, lukewarm water: 37-40°C (warm like a baby's bath, NOT hot)
Test temperature with inner wrist
Small lump <1cm: Sit in warm water for 10 minutes, 2 times a day
Medium lump 1-2cm: 15 minutes, 3 times a day
Wear loose, clean cotton underwear
4. WHAT YOU MUST NEVER DO
Do not squeeze with nails
Do not scratch or rub with nails
Do not try to burst or pop it with needle/pin
Do not pull the flesh coming out
Do not insert soap, Dettol, Savlon, or feminine wash INSIDE vagina
Do not wear tight jeans or tight synthetic underwear during this time
ANTIBIOTICS LESSON - VERY IMPORTANT
Many girls go to pharmacy and buy antibiotics by themselves. DO NOT DO THIS. This is very dangerous.
A) Antibiotics will NOT cure a Polyp/Growth:
Polyp is solid flesh. Medicine will not melt it. Only removal works.
B) Antibiotics will NOT cure a simple Cyst:
Cyst is a blocked water bag. No germs inside yet. Antibiotics cannot open it.
C) For Abscess, antibiotics alone are NOT enough:
Abscess has pus locked inside a bag. Antibiotics cannot go inside the pus bag properly. You need doctor to drain the pus + correct antibiotics together. If you take wrong antibiotics alone, pus stays inside, infection spreads to uterus.
What happens if you take wrong antibiotics without doctor?
- Infection becomes resistant - medicine stops working next time
- You hide the fever but pus stays inside and grows bigger
- You will need a BIG surgery later instead of small drainage
- Liver and stomach damage
Correct way: ALWAYS see doctor first. Doctor will give swab test and scan, then give CORRECT antibiotic for CORRECT days. Finish full course. Do not stop in middle. DO NOT TAKE ANTIBIOTICS FROM PHARMACY WITHOUT DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION.
WHEN TO GO TO DOCTOR URGENTLY ?
Fever and severe pain, cannot sit or walk, lump growing fast, bad smell or heavy bleeding, pus discharge.
FOR VIRGIN GIRLS - WHAT IS HYMEN? FULL EXPLANATION - MANY GIRLS DON'T KNOW THIS
What is hymen? Hymen is a very thin, soft membrane at the entrance of vagina. It is NOT a door that closes fully. It is like a soft ring with a natural hole in the middle.
Why is there a hole? God made a hole there for a reason. If there was no hole, period blood could not come out and natural white discharge could not come out. Blood would get blocked inside and cause severe pain. So every girl from birth HAS a natural hole in the hymen. This is 100% normal.
Many girls think wrong: They think hymen is fully closed and will break and bleed a lot on first time. This is WRONG.
Different types of hymen - All normal:
Annular Hymen: Small round hole in centre - most common
Crescentic Hymen: Half-moon shape, opening below - very common
Septate Hymen: Two small holes with thin band in middle
Cribriform Hymen: Many tiny holes
All these types HAVE a hole. Size is usually 5mm to 15mm.
How do we protect it during surgery?
We use Mini Hysteroscope - ONLY 3-4mm thin. Your little finger = 12-15mm, a coin = 20mm, our camera = ONLY 3-4mm. Because our camera is SO small (3-4mm), it is SMALLER than your natural hymen hole (5-15mm). So doctor does NOT cut the hymen. Doctor gently passes the 3-4mm camera THROUGH the natural hole that is already there where your period comes from. No tearing, no bleeding from hymen.
What to tell doctor? Before check-up, just say: "Doctor, I am a virgin, please protect my hymen. I want hymen-saving technique." Virginity stays safe.
FINAL MESSAGE
This is a very common health issue. It is not shameful. Early check-up means easy treatment and same-day recovery. Please be brave and see a gynecologist early.
Can a doctor tell whether someone has had sex by examining the hymen...?
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