DOES ABSCESS THREATEN MY PREGNANCY?

I’m 25 years old and have been suffering from an infection called Bartholin’s abscess for many years. I fell pregnant with my first baby when the abscess was still present, and sadly I had a stillbirth at 7 months. Now I am pregnant again (33 weeks), and I’m worried that I will experience the same problem again. Can this abscess affect my baby in any way?

TINA ANSWERS: Bartholin’s abscess occurs when the Bartholin’s gland duct in the labia becomes blocked and then the swollen gland becomes infected. It is not uncommon, and if not managed appropriately is more likely to recur in the future. It occurs more frequently during pregnancy, and is also more common in HIV-positive women. A Bartholin’s abscess should have no impact on a pregnancy and was not the cause of your stillbirth. If it does occur in pregnancy, you may have to go to the theatre to have it properly opened and drained, and this is safe to do.