Serrapeptase for Bartholin Cyst- Is It Effective?

By - Samin Ishmam

Bartholin cyst can be a very painful condition. And if it occurs time and again, it’s natural to try all possible ways to make this go away. You’ll find lots of at-home remedies for Bartholin cyst on the internet. 

‘Serrapeptase Bartholin cyst’ may have been one of those remedies you came across.

So the question arises, Serrapeptase for Bartholin cyst, is it effective?

Some people have found success using serrapeptase. But, it’s not an approved treatment for Bartholin cyst. If you’ve exhausted all of your options, then you can give this a shot. But if you have recurrent problems, it’s best to seek the help of a doctor.

That being said, let’s take an in-depth look at ‘serrapeptase Bartholin cyst’. Then you can decide whether it’s right for you.

All You Need to Know about Bartholin Cyst

Well, before connecting Serrapeptase with Bartholin cyst, let’s be clear about it. We have mentioned a detailed overview of Bartholin cyst so that you don’t confuse it with something else. 

What Is a Bartholin Cyst? 

As the name implies, it’s a cyst that occurs in Bartholin’s gland. The Bartholin’s glands are two small glands located in the inner wall of the vagina. They are roughly the size of peas. And they are located on both sides.

Like all glands, Bartholin’s gland secretes various substances. The main component of the secretion is mucous. This lubricates the vagina during sexual intercourse.

This fluid is high in potassium but low in sodium. Normally, the blood is high in sodium and low in potassium. However, this fluid is the opposite. The pH of this fluid is also low making it acidic. This acidic pH helps protect the vagina from various infections.

Each gland has many ducts and acini. The acini are small hollow pouches that are lined by cells. These cells secrete the fluid.

The ducts start from the mouths of the acini. Smaller ducts from many acini converge to form larger ducts that open into the vagina.

What Happens in a Bartholin Cyst?

If the Bartholin’s glands get obstructed, then it can turn into a Bartholin’s cyst. This obstruction can happen due to infection or if the mucous secretion gets concentrated and blocks the opening.

If the openings of the glands are obstructed, then the fluid will remain inside the gland. But the gland won’t stop its secretions. 

So, this can cause swelling of the gland. This is the main way in which the cyst develops.

The fluid stays stagnant inside the gland. And bacteria or other organisms can grow inside the cyst. This infection of bacteria is what causes the inflammation.

The bacteria releases various chemicals which can damage the cells of the glands. The body’s immune system also responds. This system tries to destroy the bacteria. The cells of the immune system also cause some tissue damage.

In the end, this causes all the symptoms of inflammation which are redness, pain, swelling, heat, and loss of function.

Symptoms of Bartholin’s Cyst

In most cases, Bartholin’s cysts are painless. However, if the cyst is inflamed, it will cause pain. This pain occurs while walking, or trying to sit, or during sexual intercourse. Since there’s a bacterial infection, there also may be fever.

Now that we know what actually happens in Bartholin’s cyst, let’s see what serrapeptase is and what it can do here.

All you Need to Know about Serrapeptase

Whenever there’s the suffix ‘ase’ at the end of a chemical’s name, it means that it’s an enzyme. So, serrapeptase is an enzyme as well. But it’s not a human enzyme. 

Serratia bacteria are present inside the intestines of silkworms. These are non-pathogenic and part of the normal gut bacteria of the silkworm. These bacteria release serrapeptase.

What Effect Does Serrapeptase Have on The Body?

Many proponents of alternative medicine claim that Serrapeptase has many helpful effects on the body. According to them, this drug is helpful in a variety of conditions that cause pain, like:

These conditions cause pain because Serrapeptase has an analgesic effect. Serrapeptase has also been implicated in infective conditions like:

The idea here is that infection and inflammation cause tissue damage by several effector proteins. 

Some of these are enzymes themselves. And serrapeptase can break down these proteins and stop their effects.

These all might make serrapeptase sound like a magic cure. However, all of these are claims. It is true that many have benefitted from this compound. But there haven’t been enough clinical trials to support the use of this substance.

There have been a few small-scale trials. But the methodologies used in those trials aren’t very strong. So this substance isn’t used as a drug. Rather, it’s used as a supplement.

Is Serrapeptase Effective for Bartholin Cyst?

As we’ve already said, the pain and discomfort which occurs due to Bartholin cyst result from inflammation. 

So, the idea here is that serrapeptase can reduce inflammation in this case. Serrapeptase can break down the proteins which are responsible for the inflammation. One trial has also shown that serrapeptase can reduce the activity of the inflammatory cells. 

This is particularly helpful to reduce the pain due to inflammation.

However, there have been no solid trials supporting the use of serrapeptase for Bartholin’s cyst. So, don’t expect serrapeptase to magically make the pain go away. And those who have found help using serrapeptase also took other measures to combat this Bartholin’s cyst.

If you found no results, then you should go see a doctor. They can identify the cause and give proper treatment. 

Recurrent cases of Bartholin’s cyst might even be due to an underlying problem. So, it’s best to seek the help of a professional.

What Other Treatments Are There for Bartholin’s Cyst?

In most cases, Bartholin’s cyst requires no treatment. If it doesn’t cause any pain or other symptoms, it’s best to leave it alone. With time, the inflammation will resolve and you’ll be healthy in no time.

However, you have to take steps if you experience pain or discomfort. Below are some of the treatments for Bartholin’s cyst:

Taking a Sitz Bath

This is the most well-known remedy for Bartholin’s cyst. Your doctor will recommend this to you if you complain of pain and swelling. This is basically a hot water bath for the perineal region.

The hot water can help with the unclogging of the gland opening. It will also increase blood flow and keep those areas clean.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe you some medications for the pain and swelling. You can find these over-the-counter.

These generally include analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If your doctor examines and finds that you have an infection, they may even give you oral antibiotics. However, you should never take antibiotics without the prior consultation of a doctor.

Surgical Approaches

If your cyst is too big and infected, you might need some surgical procedures. The reason is that if the cyst is too big, antibiotic drugs can’t reach inside and kill all the bacteria inside. So, the cyst has to be drained manually.

Surgeons now use various techniques for Bartholin’s cyst.

These include incision and drainage, marsupialization, and sometimes even total gland excision. The surgical approach has a success rate of around 85%. So, you don’t have to worry.

FAQs on Serrapeptase Bartholin Cyst

What will come out of a Bartholin cyst?

Answer: If it is infected, whitish pus might come out of a Bartholin cyst. In case of no infections, the normal clear mucoid fluid might come out.

How do you stop Bartholin cysts from coming back?

Answer: Bartholin cysts may reoccur unless the entire gland is excised off. However, carbon dioxide laser, silver nitrate, antibiotic therapy, etc. might prevent a recurrence. It’s best to discuss this with your doctor.

Can a Bartholin cyst go away without bursting?

Answer: Yes, small cysts can go away without bursting. If the gland opening gets unclogged on its own, then the fluid may drain out without bursting.

How do you unclog a Bartholin gland?

Answer: Sitz bath, warm water, warm compress, etc. can help unclog a Bartholin gland. However, if the cyst is big and infected, then drainage is necessary.

Conclusion

Now you got the answer to Serrapeptase for Bartholin’s cyst, is it effective? It is something that comes to the mind of many people. And Serrapeptase has worked for many people who suffered from a painful Bartholin’s cyst. 

However, this isn’t a recommended drug, rather it’s just a supplement. So, don’t worry if it doesn’t work for you. It’s always best to seek help from a doctor to properly handle this condition.