What is an episiotomy?

An episiotomy is a surgical incision made in the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) during childbirth to prevent tearing of the tissue. The goal of an episiotomy is to prevent irregular or undesirable tears in the vagina.

The incision is made with scissors and all tissues are joined together in a regular manner with dissolvable sutures. The size of the incision should be sufficient and suitable for each baby. Dissolving sutures are used for incision repair.

What is episiotomy repair?

Episiotomy repair is the process of revising the episiotomy in order to restore the normal anatomy if the tissues do not heal properly after the procedure.

Why is episiotomy repair done?

Improperly performed episiotomy can cause deformity and painful sexual intercourse. Painful sexual intercourse can also lead to reluctance to engage in sexual activity. For these reasons, patients may request episiotomy repair surgery.

How is episiotomy repair done?

Episiotomy repair is usually performed under local anesthesia. However, if vaginal tightening is also desired, general or spinal anesthesia may be chosen. The surgery takes an average of 30-35 minutes.

What is the social life like after episiotomy repair?

After episiotomy repair surgery, patients are typically discharged on the same day. Four weeks of home rest is not required. After the surgery, patients may experience bleeding and pain, but these should resolve without significant discomfort.