Episiotomy

Episiotomy is a procedure sometimes done during childbirth to make a woman's vaginal opening bigger. This make it easier to deliver the baby.

Description of Procedure

The skin between the vagina and anus is cut. This area is called the perineum.

Just before the baby is born, the obstetrician numbs the vaginal area opening and makes one of two cuts:

• A mediolateral cut is angled down away from the vagina and into the muscle.
• A midline cut is made straight down between the vagina and anus.

The cut makes the opening to the vagina bigger. The cut is stitched closed after the baby and placenta have been delivered.

Risks of Episiotomy

Many studies suggest this procedure has no benefit during routine childbirth.

Women who have an episiotomy have more intercourse-related pain after pregnancy, and wait longer before having sex after childbirth.

There is a chance the episiotomy can lead to a larger tear, or it may tear the muscles around the rectum. This can lead to later problems with controlling gas and sometimes stool. These problems are less likely if you do not have an episiotomy, and the skin tears naturally during childbirth.

Additional risks of an episiotomy include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Incontinence
• Infection
• Swelling

Episiotomy - series

Review Date: 9/12/2011
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.

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