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Vaginal and perineal tears

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Vaginal and perineal tears happen once the labia and perineum (the area between the vagina and anal area) reach the greatest point of stretching. It’s common for this to happen to women during childbirth. 

Many women have a least one small tear giving birth. Tears range from first-degree to fourth-degree.

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FAQ about vaginal and perineal tears

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  • This is the least severe tear and involves the skin between the opening of the vagina, the anal area and tissue directly beneath the skin. 

    Typically, no stitching is required and recovery is only a few weeks. During recovery, you may have pain or stinging while passing urine. 

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  • This involves the skin and muscle of the perineum and can go into the vagina. This tear will likely require stitches. The recovery time is a few weeks. 

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  • This tear involves the muscle around the anal area. Your doctor may repair it in the operating room under anesthesia. Depending on how serious the tear is, recovery time can take more than a month. 

    In some cases, complications such as stool leakage and painful intercourse may happen. If you have either of these problems, contact your doctor right away. 

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  • This is the most severe tear and extends from the anal sphincter into the mucous membrane that lines the anal area. Similar to third degree tears, your doctor will repair it in the operating room under anesthesia. 

    In some cases, complications such as stool leakage and painful intercourse may happen. If you have either of these problems, contact your doctor right away. 

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FAQ about treating tears

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  • It’s important to follow what your care team tells you about postpartum hygiene to help with your pain, to stop infection and to promote healing. 

    This may include:

    • Cleaning the area with warm water before and after using the bathroom
    • Patting the area dry with gauze
    • Changing your pad every four to six hours
    • Not touching the site
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  • It’s important to speak with your care team about how you can best deal with your pain. 

    Your care team may suggest that you:  

    • Take ibuprofen 
    • Put witch hazel pads on the area 
    • Put an ice pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time
    • If sitting is uncomfortable, sit on a pillow or a special cushion made to help with healing 
    • Take a warm sitz bath (warm, shallow bath that cleanses the perineum)

    You can also talk with your care team about numbing spray, creams and stool softener to help ease the pain and help with bowel movements.

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