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Research shows that routine use of episiotomies (surgical cuts in the area
between the vagina and anus) does not keep the mother's
skin from tearing during birth. It does not speed up a normal birth. It does
not help avoid the bladder control problems women sometimes get after having
a baby.
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What You Need to Know
An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the perineum. (That is the area between the vagina
and the anus.) When a woman has a baby, the doctor, nurse-midwife, or midwife may make
this cut.
If you are pregnant, you should talk to your
doctor, nurse-midwife, or midwife about
episiotomies, just as you talk about whether
you want pain medicine during childbirth. Do
it before you get to the delivery room!
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To Have or Not to Have an Episiotomy?
Some doctors perform episiotomies for every
birth. Researchers looked at the evidence for
this routine use of episiotomies. They did not
look at special cases, such as when a baby's
shoulders get stuck during birth.
The research shows that routine use of
episiotomies does not keep the mother's skin
from tearing during birth. It does not speed up
a normal birth. It does not help avoid the
bladder control problems women sometimes
get after having a baby.
You should know that:
- Both episiotomies and tears that occur
when giving birth may be painful. They
may be slow to heal. They can become
infected.
- If you do not have an episiotomy, your skin
may tear during delivery. But the tear is
likely to be smaller than an episiotomy and
to heal with less pain.
Women who do not have episiotomies:
- Are likely to start having sex sooner after
childbirth than women who have them.
- Have less pain the first time they have
sexual intercourse after childbirth.
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What Should I Do?
Be Informed!
- Talk with your doctor, nurse-midwife, or
midwife. Ask the reasons they might
perform an episiotomy. Ask how often they
perform them.
- Tell your doctor, nurse-midwife, or
midwife any questions or concerns you
have about having an episiotomy.
- Tell them what you prefer. Your voice
counts!
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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ Publication No. 06-0005
Current as of December 2005
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850