Masturbated after Bartholin's gland surgery

Author: Aunt Vadge
Qualified Naturopath | BHSc(N)

Last reviewed: July 8, 2026

Hi Aunt Vadge,

I had Bartholin‘s gland surgery 15 days ago. Today I masturbated, just by rubbing against my mattress (I didn’t even touch my clitoris). Now I’m afraid I’ve done something bad to my surgery. Have I?

From,
M.
Age 35, Iran

Dear M,

Take a breath – you’ve very likely done no harm at all. At 15 days the marsupialisation site is well into healing, and gentle external rubbing with no insertion and no direct pressure on the wound is about the lowest-impact thing you could have done.

If it had really damaged anything, you’d know – sharp pain, fresh bleeding, or the wound feeling ‘wrong’ – and a bit of worry afterwards is completely understandable but doesn’t mean you’ve caused a problem.

For context, your Bartholin’s glands make some of your natural lubrication, and the surgery was to stop fluid building up behind a blockage; as long as the area isn’t tender, gentle self-pleasure from here is fine, and if it is still tender, just ease off and give it more time.

The things that would actually warrant calling your surgeon are fresh bleeding, pus or unusual discharge, increasing pain or swelling, the wound opening up, or a fever – and none of those are caused by gentle rubbing. Otherwise, just keep following your post-op aftercare and you’ll be fine.

You haven’t done anything wrong by being a normal human with a body; be gentle with yourself while it finishes healing.

Best,
Aunt Vadge

This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice – always follow your own surgeon’s aftercare.