Everyone is familiar with clogged glands. When skin cells clog the glands, it can lead to bumps and acne breakouts. Did you know this can happen down in your cervix, too? Yes, there are skin cells in your cervix and they can clog the glands. Nabothian cysts are very common and do not cause any issues or require any specific treatment.
Nabothian cysts are tiny harmless bumps that form in the cervical canal. When the skin cells trap mucus in the cervical glands, it causes small bumps known as the Nabothian cysts. A woman may develop just one cyst or multiple cysts in her cervical canal. In most cases, she may not notice them or feel anything until the doctor discovers them during a pelvic exam.
Nabothian cysts can be of varying sizes. They are mostly small and do not interfere with a woman’s pregnancy or sexual life. However, some cysts can grow and block the cervical canal or cause discomfort like pain during sex or sometimes even bleeding after sex. This is very rare and completely treatable.
As Nabothian cysts do not present any symptoms, you may not realise you have these cysts until your doctor does a pelvic exam during your pregnancy. Nabothian cysts are benign and do not affect the pregnancy or the baby in any way.
Most cysts are small, harmless and pain-free. So, they do not cause any disturbance during pregnancy or childbirth. However, in rare cases some cysts can be big, filled with mucus or located in tricky spots. Such cysts will require drainage before childbirth so that it does not cause any obstruction or complication during vaginal delivery.
Most Nabothian cysts go unrecognised unless a doctor performs a pelvic exam. In rare cases, these cysts can cause the following symptoms:
● Light pressure in the vagina
● A feeling of fullness in the vagina
● Pain during or after sex
● Vaginal bleeding after sex
● Increase in vaginal discharge
● Changes in colour or odour of vaginal discharge
Skin cells produce mucus. This happens all over the body, including the cervix. Sometimes, the mucus gets trapped under the skin glands and causes tiny bumps or cysts. The size of these cysts depends on how much mucus is trapped in them. The location of the cysts also varies from person to person.
Some cysts can be white or yellow when you view them up close. Some can be just cloudy or even clear. These cysts can form anytime in anyone, irrespective of age or health.
Nabothian cysts can affect anyone born with a cervix. It is more common among females between puberty and menopause stages. The following events can increase the chances of developing Nabothian cysts as they can alter the way cervical skin cells grow:
Postpartum – After pregnancy and giving birth to a baby, the skin cells in the cervix can experience accelerated growth. These new cells can clog the glands and cause Nabothian cysts.
Cervical Injury – In case of an injury in the cervical area, the skin cells will grow faster to help repair the damage. These tissue cells can block the glands and trap the mucus in them, leading to Nabothian cysts.
Cervical Infection – After a cervical infection or inflammation, the skin cells in the cervix will grow and repair the damages caused. These skin cells can clog the glands leading to Nabothian cysts. In some cases, this can happen after experiencing some health issue or condition that can cause such inflammations.
Nabothian cysts with no symptoms are usually discovered during a routine pelvic exam. Your doctor may try the following to confirm if the bumps are in fact Nabothian cysts:
Imaging Tests - an MRI, CT scan or an ultrasound of the cervix.
Colposcopy – A procedure that makes the insides of the cervix appear larger so that the doctor can get a better look at the cysts and confirm if they are Nabothian cysts.
Sample – In case of large cysts filled with mucus, the doctor might take a sample from the cyst and send it to the lab. A lab test of the fluid will help rule out cancer.
Nabothian cysts mostly don’t require any treatment. They are benign and do not cause any hindrance or complications. However, some cysts can be very large or located in sensitive areas that can affect one’s quality of life. In such cases, the following treatments can be considered:
Electrocautery Ablation – Using an electrical current, the healthcare provider will heat and destroy the cysts.
Cryotherapy – Using liquid nitrogen, the health care provider will freeze the cyst and destroy it.
Nabothian cysts are very common and most women may not know they have them. In many cases, women realise they have these cysts only after a routine pelvic scan. So, if your cysts don’t cause any trouble, there is nothing to worry about. If they are causing any trouble, consult your gynaecologist and get them removed if necessary.
