Sexual function after Bartholin gland abscess treatment: A randomized trial of the marsupialization and excision methods.

OBJECTIVE

To compare sexual function scores in patients who had marsupialization and gland excision procedures for the treatment of Bartholin gland abscesses.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients who had bartholin abscess for the first time were randomized into marsupialization or gland excision methods. The primary outcome was to compare post surgical Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores between the marsupialization group and the excision group. Secondary outcomes were to calculate the recurrence rates and other postoperative complications after the surgery.

RESULTS

195 women were evaluated for the treatment of Bartholin abscess and 154 of them were included in our study. The final analysis was carried out on 134 participants. There was no statistically significant difference among the study groups in terms of age, BMI, gravidity, parity, site of the abscess, and diameter of the abscess. The mean diameter of the abscess was not significantly different among patients who had dyspareunia (4 ± 1.34 cm) and did not have dyspareunia (3.39 ± 0.99 cm). No recurrence was observed in the gland excision group while 5 patients had a recurrence of the abscess in the marsupialization group. Dyspareunia after the procedure was more common in patients who underwent marsupialization (2.9% vs 15.1%, p = 0.01). The FSFI scores were <26.5 in both treatment groups. The total score was 24.76 ± 4.32 in the excision group and was 22.33 ± 5.15 in the marsupialization group.

CONCLUSION

The excision of the gland for treating the Bartholin abscess resulted in less dyspareunia and recurrence when compared to the marsupialization procedure. Lower FSFI scores were reported in both groups, however, FSFI scores in the excision group were higher than in the marsupialization group. The excision of the Bartholin gland did not hamper sexual function.