I just had an enormous golf ball sized Bartholin's abcess. Horrifically painful every move I made. I had looked up remedies online and was trying to get it to burst. WARNING! Many will tell you use tea tree oil and theirs went away. Mine was mildly irritating and about the size of a pecan. Clearly infected. Once I put on tea tree oil, it exploded the size of the cyst, burned like hell and it grew to five times the size it was, became excruciating and NOTHING helped after that. 24 more crying, screaming writhing hours of that which felt like razors in my vagina everytime I moved, tried to pee or take the baths - i could not take the pain, it would not rupture on its own.

I cannot say enough - how awful the tea tree oil made it, burned my skin and exasterbated it all. Wish I had never read it! My instincts were to not do it - but people said it went away in two hours - so, i went against my instincts. (Never a good idea, they are there for a reason!)

I went to gyn office - here's a heads up I did not realize or would have never done that either. I couldnt even walk at this point in so much pain! They did not have an IV or any pain meds they could give me to do an in office procedure?!? The topical lidocane burned and when they tried to put in the needle to numb me I just screamed bloody murder, sobbing!!! Do yourself a favor if you are in this shape, go straight to ER so they can give you something for the pain. They might could have lanced ut uf I did that.

I had to go to surgery for a full anesthesia to get it done. Thank GOD! !!!
Just so you also know - dont let expense fears stop you from ER, most hospitals have a financial aid dept :)

I waited longer than I needed to - bc of money.

FYI - i am not finding the word catheter bad as people here say. DO have an expert gyn surgeon do it, not just any er doc though.

Best recommend I learned:

Before it got bad - Betonite Clay was the most calming and healing thing I used. It draws out toxins, it can go on the inside of your vagina, and you can find at most health food stores for $12 or so

It shrunk it totally the first time. Also I alternated cold packs with hot treatments bc my tissues were SO swollen. I used ice watered tea bags
Too on the lips of the labia, helped so much felt so good!

Happy healing!