First off I want to thank astralgirl01 so much for posting what worked for her. I owe her and all the others on this site for sharing experiences and home remedies. Normally I dont post on sites, but I feel such gratitude to the women on here and felt that sharing my story might help another woman that has to endure through these aweful things. I have been suffering from Bartholin gland cysts/abscesses for the past two years. Each time I feel the pain first, and then swelling follows and about 5 days later the abscess is the size of a golfball and causes sharp needle-like pain that brings me to tears. I have had one lanced by my OBGYN which was not pleasant to say the least and the other two opened on their own with the use of hot packs and sitz baths...but not without terrible pain leading up to that point. Ten days ago I woke feeling pain on my right gland and instantly knew I had another cyst/abscess. So fed up with the fact that doctors seem to have no remedies for this condition I took to the internet as I had so many times in the past and found this forum. And so glad I did! I woke up the next day and it was the size of an almond and was tender so I knew I had to act fast. I went to the store and bought calamine lotion, tea tree oil and witch hazel for Phoebes remedy and also bought Goldenseal root capsules. I alternated using Phoebes remedy soaked in a cottonball placed directly on the gland and placing a chamomile tea bag steeped in water and witch hazel directly on the gland. I found that the tea bag really helped reduce swelling and phoebes remedy reduced pain. I wore a panty liner to hold each in place and went about my day as normal. I also took as many sitz baths as I could and emptied 3-4 goldenseal root capsules into the bath each time. I did this for 3 days and noticed that the pain was gone and I had very little swelling. On the 3rd day I received the Doctors Best High Potency Serrapeptase capsules (same as astralgirl01 used) that I ordered off amazon and began taking those before bed daily for the next three days. I continued using Phoebes remedy and the chamomile tea bags each twice a day while sleeping or napping and to my utter disbelief and relief after 6 days my gland was back to normal!! I really think the Serrapeptase helped the most, along with the other at home treatments. Please try doing these things if you suffer from this terrible condition. I always thought I was going to have to live with this pain on and off the rest of my life, but these treatments have actually worked and given me hope. Don't give up and try not to let this take over your life. I sympathize with all the woman on this site and hope my story can help someone else.

I want to share what worked for me. I had been suffering for over 10 years with cysts. I had tried everything, even surgery and they kept coming back.

About a year ago I found a book called "the Bartholin Cyst Miracle Method" and it was the only thing in 10 years that actually made my cyst go away. I have been cyst free for over a year now.

One of the items I used in the treatment was serrapeptase.

My friend recently started having cysts and when she told me about it I gave her the book. It worked for her too. She told me to share this with other women so here I am. I don't remember where I got the book but I'm sure if you Google "Bartholin Cyst Miracle Method" it will come up.

Good Luck ladies!

Hi there. I wanted to know whether using this medicine can cause any side effects too.
My bartholin cyst is 2 yrs old in starting days it pains alot I saw a doctor and she said it's just a boil an d it will go naturally.
After few days it took a size of apricot it is still there and doesn't pain but as I m newly married I feel embarrassing sometimes. I really want to get rid of this thing. Please help me.

Hi All,

Serrapeptase works!! I just had my very first BC experience this past weekend. It scared the heck out of me and I spent a lot of time online doing research to hunt out the best remedy for me.

Out of all the stuff on the nebulous internet, this forum was of the most help - especially this post by astralgirl01. Thank you so, so much, astralgirl01 (and *all* who have posted here)! What you have shared helped cut through all of the overwhelming information out there about a relatively undiscussed topic. I'm indebted. What I'm posting may not be new information, but will definitely back up the findings of others whose advice I followed.

My BC was almond-sized upon discovery and grew to be slightly bigger. Walking was just starting to be really uncomfortable when I realized that it was NOT an ingrown hair but a BC! It cleared up quickly -- in three days. I jotted down everything I did for my own records and also so I could share with anyone else who could use the info. I noticed that the main steps in my remedy ironically make up the acronym "AHHA" (Ah-ha!): Anti-Inflammatory Enzyme, Heat, Hydration & Aeration.

Here's what I did:

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ENZYME (Serrapeptase): Like astralgirl01, I strongly believe that this was the key! I am based in the US and found this natural enzyme available at many places -- online at Amazon and in the following stores: Super Supplements, Vitamin Shoppe. I purchased mine at Whole Foods Market.

Brand: Enzymedica
Name: SerraGold, High Activity Serrapeptase
Capsule Count: 60
SPU per Capsule: 100,000 SPU (I suspect that the more SPU's the better, 100,000 and over.)
Cost: $30 USD
Dosage: I took three per day, five hours apart (8 AM / 1 PM / 6 PM)
Note on enteric coating: SerraGold's Unique formula contains a vegetarian source of Serrapeptase so no enteric coating is needed. This brand was extremely gentle on the stomach and I experienced NO nausea or upset stomach.

HEAT: I used a Jack Frost Reusable Hot/Cold Gel Pack (also available on Amazon or at any local drugstore in the US). I heated mine (insulated side facing down) in the microwave for 30 seconds, wrapped it in a thin washcloth so that the heat came through but did not burn or sting and placed it on the BC area. This drew out the pain and helped speed things along towards bursting. I did this for 15 minutes at a time for several hours before bed. It also helped me relax and get to sleep. I also slept in the buff down below to give the BC area plenty of chance to breathe overnight.

I did not try applying the Tea Tree Oil / Calamine Lotion / Witch Hazel (as Phoebe helpfully advised) directly to the area, but that remedy was next on my list should the simple heat not do the trick. I also did not get to the pelvic floor bath stage (Stitz or Sea Salt ) but was prepared to try that next if all else failed.

HYDRATION: I read that it really helps to flush your system, so I amped up my water intake throughout the day (10-12 glasses) and drank three generous cups of green tea per day. This made me feel better in general, and I have to think it only aided in a speedy recovery from my BC.

AERATION: Letting my lady area breathe seemed to be a big factor in expediting my recovery. I checked the labels on all of the pants I had been wearing recently. They were all made of highly synthetic material - stretchy workout-style pants. Whoops! I quickly found a few pairs of predominantly cotton pants (95% cotton) and switched to wearing these. I also made sure to switch to only COTTON underwear.

Other tips & notes: Since stress and diet have been linked closely to BC causes, I did some internet scouring to find improvements that I could make:

DIET: I found this the perfect opportunity to try an anti-inflammatory diet. I loaded up on fruit and vegetable intake (especially leafy greens, berries, brightly-colored peppers, avocados, sweet potatoes, beans, etc.), nuts (almonds, pine nuts) and I also cut out dairy and sugars. I switched to Almond Milk (Silk brand) and substitute Stevia (100% extract) for Sugar in my tea. We ate out once and I order a small bowl of Vietnamese Pho, this tasted heavenly, was easy to digest and its fragrance soothed all of my senses.

STRESS-REDUCTION: Stress is tough to reduce when your health is in question and your life is already busy and/or hectic. Since I couldn't take a week off and fly to a Meditation Retreat on a sandy beach, I worked hard to take little moments each day to slow my breath, focus on the simple "in-and-out" rhythm of my breathing. I used Eucalyptus Oil liberally to help induce relaxation--dabbing it on my temples, in the center of my forehead and beneath my nostrils. This helped me unwind immensely, especially at night in combination with cups of steaming green tea and the hot pack on my BC area. I went to bed early, got eight hours of sleep and went about my days like normal but did what I could to be gentle to myself, not over-exerting myself, resting whenever possible. I also focused on not lingering long on stressful thoughts or in frenetic situations. Being kind and pampering oneself (even in little ways) is a tall order if you are not used to it, but the benefits are priceless. And your health and life will be changed for the better.

I hope this helps anyone dealing with a BC now or in the future. BC's are an upsetting and painful business, and no one should have to go through it alone or without good information.

Hi All,

Serrapeptase works!! I just had my very first BC experience this past weekend. It scared the heck out of me and I spent a lot of time online doing research to hunt out the best remedy for me.

Out of all the stuff on the nebulous internet, this forum was of the most help - especially this post by astralgirl01. Thank you so, so much, astralgirl01 (and *all* who have posted here)! What you have shared helped cut through all of the overwhelming information out there about a relatively undiscussed topic. I'm indebted. What I'm posting may not be new information, but will definitely back up the findings of others whose advice I followed.

My BC was almond-sized upon discovery and grew to be slightly bigger. Walking was just starting to be really uncomfortable when I realized that it was NOT an ingrown hair but a BC! It cleared up quickly -- in three days. I jotted down everything I did for my own records and also so I could share with anyone else who could use the info. I noticed that the main steps in my remedy ironically make up the acronym "AHHA" (Ah-ha!): Anti-Inflammatory Enzyme, Heat, Hydration & Aeration.

Here's what I did:

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ENZYME (Serrapeptase): Like astralgirl01, I strongly believe that this was the key! I am based in the US and found this natural enzyme available at many places -- online at Amazon and in the following stores: Super Supplements, Vitamin Shoppe. I purchased mine at Whole Foods Market.

Brand: Enzymedica
Name: SerraGold, High Activity Serrapeptase
Capsule Count: 60
SPU per Capsule: 100,000 SPU (I suspect that the more SPU's the better, 100,000 and over.)
Cost: $30 USD
Dosage: I took three per day, five hours apart (8 AM / 1 PM / 6 PM)
Note on enteric coating: SerraGold's Unique formula contains a vegetarian source of Serrapeptase so no enteric coating is needed. This brand was extremely gentle on the stomach and I experienced NO nausea or upset stomach.

HEAT: I used a Jack Frost Reusable Hot/Cold Gel Pack (also available on Amazon or at any local drugstore in the US). I heated mine (insulated side facing down) in the microwave for 30 seconds, wrapped it in a thin washcloth so that the heat came through but did not burn or sting and placed it on the BC area. This drew out the pain and helped speed things along towards bursting. I did this for 15 minutes at a time for several hours before bed. It also helped me relax and get to sleep. I also slept in the buff down below to give the BC area plenty of chance to breathe overnight.

I did not try applying the Tea Tree Oil / Calamine Lotion / Witch Hazel (as Phoebe helpfully advised) directly to the area, but that remedy was next on my list should the simple heat not do the trick. I also did not get to the pelvic floor bath stage (Stitz or Sea Salt ) but was prepared to try that next if all else failed.

HYDRATION: I read that it really helps to flush your system, so I amped up my water intake throughout the day (10-12 glasses) and drank three generous cups of green tea per day. This made me feel better in general, and I have to think it only aided in a speedy recovery from my BC.

AERATION: Letting my lady area breathe seemed to be a big factor in expediting my recovery. I checked the labels on all of the pants I had been wearing recently. They were all made of highly synthetic material - stretchy workout-style pants. Whoops! I quickly found a few pairs of predominantly cotton pants (95% cotton) and switched to wearing these. I also made sure to switch to only COTTON underwear.

Other tips & notes: Since stress and diet have been linked closely to BC causes, I did some internet scouring to find improvements that I could make:

DIET: I found this the perfect opportunity to try an anti-inflammatory diet. I loaded up on fruit and vegetable intake (especially leafy greens, berries, brightly-colored peppers, avocados, sweet potatoes, beans, etc.), nuts (almonds, pine nuts) and I also cut out dairy and sugars. I switched to Almond Milk (Silk brand) and substitute Stevia (100% extract) for Sugar in my tea. We ate out once and I order a small bowl of Vietnamese Pho, this tasted heavenly, was easy to digest and its fragrance soothed all of my senses.

STRESS-REDUCTION: Stress is tough to reduce when your health is in question and your life is already busy and/or hectic. Since I couldn't take a week off and fly to a Meditation Retreat on a sandy beach, I worked hard to take little moments each day to slow my breath, focus on the simple "in-and-out" rhythm of my breathing. I used Eucalyptus Oil liberally to help induce relaxation--dabbing it on my temples, in the center of my forehead and beneath my nostrils. This helped me unwind immensely, especially at night in combination with cups of steaming green tea and the hot pack on my BC area. I went to bed early, got eight hours of sleep and went about my days like normal but did what I could to be gentle to myself, not over-exerting myself, resting whenever possible. I also focused on not lingering long on stressful thoughts or in frenetic situations. Being kind and pampering oneself (even in little ways) is a tall order if you are not used to it, but the benefits are priceless. And your health and life will be changed for the better.

I hope this helps anyone dealing with a BC now or in the future. BC's are an upsetting and painful business, and no one should have to go through it alone or without good information.