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

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