Bartholin's glands

Looks like

Two pea-sized glands at the back of the opening, each with a short duct.

What it does

Add a few drops of lubricating fluid at arousal.

Keeping it well

Nothing routine; a blocked duct makes a painless lump, an infected one a hot painful abscess.

Related conditions

• Bartholin's cyst and abscess
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Lichen sclerosus
• Thrush & bacterial vaginosis
• Vulval cancer
• Vulvodynia and vaginismus