• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Episiotomy

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Risks:

Episiotomies were once routinely performed to prevent vaginal tears during delivery. Today, there is a great deal of controversy regarding the procedure. A review of episiotomies performed in the United States 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:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Incontinence
• Infection
• Swelling

References:

Hartmann K, Viswanathan M, Palmieri R, Gartlehner G, Thorp J Jr, Lohr KN. Outcomes of routine episiotomy: a systematic review. JAMA . 2005 May 4;293(17):2141-8.

• Review Date: 5/6/2007
• Reviewed By: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.