Episiotomy

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Episiotomy - series

Episiotomies were once routinely performed to prevent vaginal tears during delivery. Today, there is a great deal of controversy regarding the procedure. A systematic review of episiotomies in the U.S. found that the procedure offers no benefit, and stated there was no evidence to suggest it improves a woman's sexual function. The same review, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that women who have an episiotomy have more intercourse-related pain after pregnancy and take longer to resume having sex after childbirth.  

Additional risks include:

• Infection
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Incontinence

Review Date: 05/23/2005
Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.