Nabothian cysts
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
What are nabothian cysts?
Nabothian cysts are cysts filled with mucus that look like tiny bumps on the surface of the cervix. They are usually 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters in diameter, and they contain mucus that ranges in color from pale yellow to amber.
In most cases, nabothian cysts occur when new tissue regrows on the cervix after childbirth. This new tissue blocks the openings of the cervix's nabothian glands, trapping their mucous secretion in tiny pockets under the skin. Nabothian cysts are a normal finding on the cervix of women who have had children. They also are seen in menopausal women whose cervical skin has thinned with age. Less often, nabothian cysts are related to chronic cervicitis, a long-term infection of the cervix.
Nabothian cysts also are called nabothian follicles, epithelial inclusion cysts, and mucinous retention cysts.
Symptoms of nabothian cysts
Nabothian cysts do not cause any symptoms unless they become very large.
Diagnosing nabothian cysts
In most cases, your doctor discovers that you have nabothian cysts during a routine gynecological exam. They almost always are considered to be normal.
Rarely, when there is something unusual about the cyst's size or appearance, your doctor may do a procedure called a colposcopy, which uses a magnifying instrument to examine the surface of the cervix closely. If the cyst looks abnormal during this exam, your doctor may do a biopsy to check for rare forms of mucus-producing cancer. In a biopsy, a small piece of tissue from the cervix is removed and examined in a laboratory.
Expected duration of nabothian cysts
Nabothian cysts are usually a long-term condition. Over time, some cysts may get bigger.
Preventing nabothian cysts
Because nabothian cysts are considered to be normal, it is not necessary to prevent them.
Treating nabothian cysts
Usually, no treatment is needed. However, in some cases, your gynecologist may choose to remove the cyst. This can be done one of two ways:
- electrocautery, which uses a heated probe to destroy the cyst
- cryotherapy, in which the gynecologist freezes the cyst with liquid nitrogen.
When to call a professional
Because nabothian cysts are normal and do not cause any symptoms, you probably will not know they are there. However, if you are an adult woman who is sexually active, it is important to visit your gynecologist at least once a year for a routine checkup.
Prognosis
The prognosis is excellent.
Additional info
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
https://www.acog.org/
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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