Patient Basics: Nabothian Cysts

Nabothian cysts (also called nabothian follicles) are small bumps filled with mucus on the surface of the cervix, the lower end of the uterus that opens into the vagina. They are very common and harmless. Most people learn they have them only because a clinician spots them during a routine pelvic exam or scan. In almost all cases, no treatment is needed.

Key points

• They form when tiny mucus glands on the cervix get covered over and the mucus is trapped.
• They are most common in people of childbearing age, especially after giving birth.
• They don’t cause cancer, don’t affect fertility or pregnancy, and usually cause no symptoms.
• Treatment is needed only in rare cases where a cyst is very large or causes discomfort.
• Keep up with your regular cervical screening tests as usual.

What causes nabothian cysts

The cervix has glands that make mucus. Its surface also renews itself over time. As new surface cells grow, they can cover the opening of a gland. The gland keeps making mucus, which collects under the surface and forms a small, smooth bump. This can happen as part of normal changes in the cervix over the years, during healing after childbirth, or after mild inflammation of the cervix (cervicitis).

Nabothian cysts are usually between a few millimeters and about a centimeter (less than half an inch) across. Small ones are the most common, and there may be one or several. Larger ones are uncommon.

Nabothian cyst symptoms

Most nabothian cysts cause no symptoms at all. Very rarely, a large cyst or a cluster of them can cause a feeling of fullness or pressure in the pelvis, or make the cervix look bigger than normal.

Bleeding between periods or after sex, pelvic pain, or unusual discharge are not typical of nabothian cysts. If you have these symptoms, your clinician will look for another cause.

How they’re found

• Pelvic exam. During a speculum exam or a Pap test, a clinician may see small, smooth, white or yellowish bumps on the cervix. Their look is usually enough to tell what they are.
• Colposcopy. If the bumps look unusual, the clinician may examine the cervix with a magnifying instrument called a colposcope.
• Imaging. Nabothian cysts often show up by chance on a pelvic ultrasound or MRI done for another reason. They look like small round pockets of fluid.

In rare cases, other growths on the cervix can look similar on a scan. If a cyst looks atypical, such as having solid parts, growing quickly or coming with other symptoms, your doctor may suggest more tests or a small tissue sample (biopsy).

Treatment

Nabothian cysts don’t need treatment. They are not a sign of infection or of a sexually transmitted infection, and they don’t need to be checked more often than your usual cervical screening schedule. Some shrink or go away over time, and new ones may appear.

If a cyst is large, causes pressure, or makes it hard to examine the cervix, a clinician can drain it or remove it in the office. Options include opening it with a small blade or needle, freezing it (cryotherapy), or using a heated tool or laser. These are quick procedures, and you may feel some cramping.

Cervical screening still matters

Nabothian cysts don’t replace or change the need for regular screening for cervical cancer. Depending on your age and history, this means a Pap test, an HPV test or both, every 3 to 5 years for most people aged 21 to 65. Ask your clinician which schedule is right for you.

When to see a doctor

• Bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• You are due for cervical screening

Common questions about nabothian cysts

How long do nabothian cysts last?

There is no set time. Some nabothian cysts shrink or burst on their own within weeks or months, while others stay for years without changing. Because they are harmless, a cyst that stays put isn’t a problem, and new ones can form as the cervix changes over time.

Is a nabothian cyst in the cervix normal?

Yes. Clinicians see nabothian cysts very often during pelvic exams, especially in people who have given birth, and they count them as a normal part of how the cervix changes with age. Having one doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your cervix or your health.

Can a nabothian cyst turn into cancer?

No. Nabothian cysts are not cancer and don’t become cancer. Very rarely, another kind of growth on the cervix can look like a cyst on a scan, so your doctor may order more tests if a cyst has solid parts or grows quickly.

Can nabothian cysts affect pregnancy?

No. Nabothian cysts don’t make it harder to get pregnant, and they don’t cause problems during pregnancy or birth. They often appear after childbirth, as the cervix heals and changes. Your prenatal care doesn’t need to change because of them.

Questions to ask your doctor

• How many cysts do I have, and how big are they?
• Do any of them look unusual?
• Do I need any follow-up beyond my regular screening?
• Could a cyst explain any symptoms I have?

Learn more

• Nabothian cyst (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine)

This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your own doctor. Last updated October 2026.