What Is a Nabothian Cyst on the Cervix, and Is It Harmless?

A nabothian cyst is a small, smooth bump on the cervix that forms when mucus becomes trapped in one of the cervix's glands. It is very common, it is not cancer, and it usually needs no treatment. Most people only find out they have one because a clinician sees it during an examination or on a scan.

The cervix is the lower part of the womb (uterus) that opens into the vagina. Nabothian cysts can look white, pale yellow or amber. Cleveland Clinic gives their size as ranging from a few millimetres to 4 centimetres across, and there can be more than one. They are sometimes called nabothian follicles.

This guide explains a finding you have already been told about. It cannot confirm what a bump on your cervix is; only the clinician who examined you or reviewed your scan can do that.

Nabothian cysts rarely cause symptoms, so new symptoms should not be put down to a cyst without a check. NHS advises seeing a GP or local doctor if you notice any of the following. These symptoms are common and have many causes, but they need checking:

• Bleeding during or after sex, between periods or after menopause.
• Periods that are heavier than usual for you.
• A change in vaginal discharge.
• Pain during sex, or pain in the lower back, pelvis or lower tummy.
• Symptoms that change, get worse or do not feel normal for you.

Glands in the cervix make mucus. MedlinePlus explains that when a layer of skin-like cells grows over the opening of a gland, the mucus cannot escape and builds up into a small, rounded lump.

This skin covering is part of the normal changes that happen on the surface of the cervix over time. Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Cleveland Clinic describe things that make the cysts more likely:

MedlinePlus notes there is no known way to prevent nabothian cysts. Finding one is not a sign that something was done wrong. If your clinician thinks inflammation or infection of the cervix is involved, they will explain whether any separate test or treatment is needed for that.

• Childbirth.
• Injury to, or treatment of, the cervix.
• Long-term inflammation or infection of the cervix (chronic cervicitis).
• The years between puberty and menopause.

Usually not. Most cysts are small and cause no symptoms at all. Cleveland Clinic notes that, rarely, a large cyst may cause a feeling of pressure or fullness in the vagina, or pain during or after sex.

If a cyst bursts, the mucus may show up as a short-lived increase in discharge, sometimes with a little blood. Cleveland Clinic suggests contacting your clinician if discharge symptoms last a long time.

Yes. A nurse or doctor may see one when they look at the cervix during a cervical screening test (smear test or Pap test) or an internal examination. Nabothian cysts can also be seen on a pelvic or vaginal ultrasound, and a report may mention them even when the scan was done for another reason.

Seeing a cyst is separate from your screening result. The sample taken at screening is tested in a laboratory, and that result comes back on its own. A nabothian cyst does not explain a positive HPV result or abnormal cells, and those results have their own follow-up plan.

MedlinePlus and Cleveland Clinic note that, rarely, very large or numerous cysts can distort the cervix and make a sample harder to take. If you were told your sample could not be read, see the guide on an inadequate cervical screening sample.

Most are recognised by their look during a routine pelvic examination. If there is any doubt, Cleveland Clinic describes extra steps a clinician may use:

• Colposcopy, where the cervix is examined through a magnifying instrument. MedlinePlus says this is rarely needed.
• Imaging such as ultrasound or MRI, if a cyst looks unusual or larger than expected.
• Opening the cyst or testing its fluid or tissue, occasionally, to confirm what it is.

Treatment is usually not needed. Newcastle Hospitals notes the cysts often go away on their own, and Newcastle describes them as normal and not linked to pre-cancer or cancer.

Treatment may be offered in uncommon situations, such as a large cyst that causes symptoms, distorts the cervix or gets in the way of screening. Options described by NHS hospital leaflets and Cleveland Clinic include draining the cyst with a small needle, or removing or destroying it with heat (electrocautery) or freezing (cryotherapy).

Cleveland Clinic mentions a very rare cancer of the cervix, called adenoma malignum, that can look similar. This is why a clinician may examine an unusual-looking cyst more closely. It is not a reason to worry about a typical small cyst that has already been identified.

If a nabothian cyst was mentioned on your screening record or scan report, these questions can help you understand what it means for you:

• Was the cyst seen during the examination, on a scan, or both?
• Is its size and appearance typical, or does anything need a closer look?
• Does it change when my next screening test is due, or does my usual schedule stay the same?
• Could it be causing any of my symptoms, or should those be checked separately?
• Is there any situation in which treatment would be recommended?

On SameCase, patients and verified doctors share de-identified cases. Seeing how others had a nabothian cyst noted on a smear or scan, and what their clinicians said, can help you prepare clear questions and feel less alarmed by unfamiliar report wording. Other people's cases cannot tell you what your own finding is, so bring your questions to the clinician who examined you.