Table of Contents
- Overview
- Risks
- Recovery
- Prevention
Many studies have found that the procedure offers no benefit in routine deliveries, and there is no evidence to suggest that it improves a woman's sexual function. It has also been found that women who have an episiotomy have more intercourse-related pain after pregnancy and take longer to resume having sex after childbirth.
If an episiotomy cut is made, there is more of a chance that it will become a larger tear or even extend into the muscles around the rectum. This can lead to later problems with controlling gas and sometimes stool. When no episiotomy is made and a woman is just allowed to tear, these problems are less likely to happen.
Additional risks include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
Incontinence - Infection
- Swelling
Previous Section
Review Date: 09/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget
Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
