Nurse Judy Opens Up About Living With Bartholin Abscess

Most women experience intimate discomfort at some point in life, yet conditions involving the vulva remain heavily stigmatized. Kenyan Nurse Judy recently opened up about a painful and often misunderstood condition she battled for years: the Bartholin abscess.

“I used to suffer from something called Bartholin abscess… and wueeh ni kama ndrama,” she shared. “It would start as a small lump, grow fast, become extremely painful, hot, swollen… mpaka kukaa ilikuwa impossible. I remember feeling embarrassed, scared, and honestly very alone because nobody talks about these things.”

Her experience highlights how silence around women’s intimate health creates fear and confusion. She described episodes so severe she could barely walk, sit, or even sleep. Treatment required antibiotics, pain medication, and at times drainage procedures. The recurrence, she said, “messes with you mentally.”

What is a Bartholin Abscess?

Bartholin glands are two small glands located near the vaginal opening. Their role is to produce lubrication. When the duct that drains this fluid becomes blocked, a painless cyst may form. If bacteria become trapped inside, this can progress into an abscess  a pocket of pus that enlarges rapidly and causes intense pain.

Common symptoms include:

• Painful swelling on one side of the vaginal opening
• Pain when walking, sitting, or during intimacy
• Redness, warmth, and tenderness
• Pressure or throbbing pain
• Fever in severe cases

Contrary to popular assumptions, this condition is not caused by poor hygiene, cursed circumstances, or “dirty behaviour.” Medical literature shows it may result from normal skin bacteria, recurrent blockage, minor trauma, shaving irritation, or friction. Women who have had one episode are more likely to experience another.

Why women don’t talk about it

Beyond the physical pain, many women report psychological distress. Conditions affecting the vagina often carry an unspoken layer of embarrassment. Judy noted that “mambo ya nunu hukua tu na aibu yake special,” a sentiment echoed by many women’s health practitioners who say stigma delays treatment.

Silence also fuels misinformation. Without proper education, women may assume their symptoms indicate an STI or something shameful, when in reality, Bartholin abscesses are a relatively common gynecological condition.

Diagnosis and treatment

Treatment depends on severity. Mild cases may respond to warm sitz baths that encourage natural drainage. More advanced infections may require antibiotics or surgical drainage. For recurrent cases, small minimally invasive procedures such as Word catheter placement or marsupialization are used to reduce future blockage.

Breaking the Silence

Judy’s decision to speak publicly offers reassurance: women are not alone, and the condition is manageable with proper care. Her message is simple: “I wish someone had educated me earlier instead of me thinking and overthinking.” Open dialogue is not just empowering, it increases the likelihood of early treatment and faster recovery.

Parents Magazine joins healthcare advocates in encouraging women, mothers, and daughters to speak openly about their intimate health. Silence should never be the reason someone suffers.