The perineum is the soft tissue between a woman's vagina and anus, and it has the capacity to stretch significantly during birth. Deficiency in vitamin C or D can impact your skin tissue strength and cause it to tear more easily. Many drugstores sell ice packs that resemble sanitary pads and can be worn in your underwear. Call your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms: Vaginal tears can be painful and unpleasant but most will heal with rest and a combination of home remedies or treatment by a healthcare provider. It can lead to complications like painful intercourse and faecal incontinence. It's a common site for tears during childbirth. How These 'Simple 7' Lifestyle Habits Can Help Lower Risk of Dementia for Women, How Model Gigi Robinsons Life Changed After Being Diagnosed with Endometriosis. Copyright 2021 by the American Academy of Family Physicians. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/multimedia/vaginal-tears/sls-20077129?s=1 For deeper tears, go to the doctor and get stitches. Effective repair requires a knowledge of perineal anatomy and surgical technique. Drink plenty of fluids. Some symptoms of poor bowel control include leaking stool or not being able to hold in gas. A tear can be as limited as the skin of the vaginal opening or as deep as the anal sphincter. Vaginal tears can occur during birth, and when they do, theyre called obstetric tears. Every piece of content at Flo Health adheres to the highest editorial standards for language, style, and medical accuracy. Repair of a second-degree laceration (Figure 3) requires approximation of the vaginal tissues, muscles of the perineal body, and perineal skin. In the perineal body all structures are hypoechogenic in this projection. If youre concerned about experiencing a vaginal tear at birth, youre not alone. This article has been viewed 217,048 times. - Routine analgesia: paracetamol and/or ibuprofen (especially if there is perineal oedema). 1st degree tear: least severe, involving only the perineal skin the skin between the . See permissionsforcopyrightquestions and/or permission requests. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. They occur when your babys head is too large for your vagina to stretch around. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Recognize-and-Avoid-Vaginal-Infections-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Recognize-and-Avoid-Vaginal-Infections-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f7\/Recognize-and-Avoid-Vaginal-Infections-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/aid8833231-v4-728px-Recognize-and-Avoid-Vaginal-Infections-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"