Conditions
Vaginal Tearing
A vaginal tear most commonly occurs during the birth of a baby, when the baby’s head stretches the opening of the vagina. Often the walls of the vagina can stretch sufficiently without breaking, but if not then there is a danger that a tear can occur. During the birth doctors may carry out an episiotomy, which involves making an incision in the perineum, the area between the rectum and the vagina. An uncontrolled birth can occasionally cause severe tearing between the vagina and the anus, so an episiotomy can relieve the pressure. Treatment for vaginal tearing normally involves stitching of the wound, and recovery is normally made within 3-6 weeks. There are secondary complications that can occur, including infection of the perineum area, so it is important for sufferers to always wipe front to back to help minimise the risk of infection.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
I am 65years of age been married for 45yr to same man! Always enjoyed sex util 2/3yrs ago when the perineum has appeared to tighten and splits when we attempt intercourse, which is now impossible. GP advised lubrication which we have always used anyway and this has made no difference at all. Husband is kind and understanding and we have found other means etc but no longer have penetrative sex at all. Please help
Hey, I'm a 16 year old girl and I have a lump on the left side of my vegina and a size of a pea under the skin, its really hurts when I touch it and really don't know what it is and too scared to go to the doctors! Does anyone know what it is!?
Just inside my vagina I have a sore I have had it for four days. I also peeing a lot
I'm 15 and I have a problem with the skin on my vagina. I used to shave a lot when I was on holiday and my skin is sensitive and it became irritated, I scratched it and the skin went really sore, now my skin has healed but its extremely pale white and has been for a couple of years. I just wanted to know if I was the only one who has experienced this problem and if it will go away or not. I'm too scared to go see my GP to ask them because I'm too worried, help? :s
Hi, I had my baby 9 months ago, ventouse delivery & a 2nd degree tear that was repaired & then broke down due to in fiction. They restitcched me 3 months later which failed again not due to infection & then again 8 weeks ago & it has failed again. My perineum is very widened & only about 0.5-1cm long. The gynae surgeon said she has never known this to happen in 30 years! I am so uncomfortable, desparate& depressed about it as the surgeon said she will.not operate again. I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon in 3 weeks & am so worried he is going to say he can not help too. I can not live my life like this, can not have a relationship with my husband, exercise or play with my child properly. I just don't want to wake up in the mornings as I feel so helpless now. Can any body please help? I do not understand why my body will not heal, how can I find out if I'm allergic to the sutures. The tissue is so thin & scared there now I just don't know what to do.
Hi, I am 18 & I had a baby 5 weeks ago. I suffered a second degree tear, everything has healed back together as it should have done but on the skin between my vagina to my anus it hurts every so often when I wipe I went to feel why it was hurting & I have two hardish balls under the skin & you can only feel them, they aren't visible! Could this just be the scare tissue or could there be another reason? Also during my birth my womb didn't contract & I lost a lot of blood so I was taken to theatre to have my vagina packed to stop the bleed since I have stopped bleeding I have been getting some discharge some days are worse than others & it looks like what it looked like when I had my show, could this mean that there could be an infection?
i had the same problem,when i had my 1st child march 2010 the scar healed between my anus and my vagina by the start of may i have a couple of lumps under the skin but its just the tissue inside thats healing back together dont worry it will go back to normal the only reason why its taking so long is because when you get out of the bath or changing your underwear it may only be for a couple of seconds but air is getting to the tear and it will heal alot faster then when the inside would do. Hope ive helped
iam 22 and had a baby 11 months ago had a really bad birth and as tore severly...since then intercorse can be sore to start but once in i cant feel anything at all...
I recently was sexually active with my boyfriend and basically because I was too dry, I came home really sore and found a big cut on one of the vagina lips. It's an open wound, should I just leave it to heal or should I do something??
if it was me i would leave it but i would keep an eye on it to make sure that it is healing back together
I'm a 19 and had my son 3 months ago through a vagnail birth teared n they had to cut me to, I've tryed have sex but it very painful I've tryed everytink!! Nuffin is helping!!! Pls help me
I'm 23 and have no children, but inbetween your vigina and anal I have got some little sores and bleeds when I go to the toilet its also stings, I would like a answer if it was possible it has been like this for now 5 months Thank you Louise
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