Postpartum perineal pain and its association with sub-classified second-degree tears and perineal trauma-A follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Perspective on Perinatal Birth Canal Injuries: An Analysis of Risk Factors, Injury Mechanisms, Treatment Methods, and Patients' Quality of Life: A Literature Review

Perineal injuries are a common complication of vaginal delivery, affecting 75-85% of women. This review examines current knowledge on risk factors, classification, treatment, and quality of life impacts. Risk factors are divided into maternal, foetal, and labour-related categories. Treatment depends on injury severity. First-degree tears can be managed conservatively, with skin glue or suturing-preferably with synthetic absorbable sutures to reduce pain and infection risk. Second-degree tears and episiotomies respond best to continuous non-locking sutures, improving healing, and minimizing postpartum pain. Severe third- and fourth-degree tears require specialised surgical techniques, such as the overlay method for anal sphincter repair, which improves faecal continence. Proper preoperative care, including antibiotics and anaesthesia, enhances outcomes. Episiotomy is controversial; selective use based on clinical indications is recommended over routine practice. Research shows no significant long-term benefits compared to spontaneous tears, and links episiotomy to psychological distress and negative body image. Preventative strategies, like perineal massage and warm compresses during labour, may reduce the risk of severe trauma, particularly in first-time mothers. Perineal trauma can have lasting physical and psychological effects, impacting sexual function, continence, and mental health. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and postpartum care are essential. Future studies should aim to standardise care protocols and explore long-term outcomes to enhance patient quality of life.

The severity of second-degree perineal tears and dyspareunia during one year postpartum: A prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Childbirth-related injuries of the pelvic floor may impact women's sexual health with symptoms such as dyspareunia. A better understanding of dyspareunia based on tissue trauma severity in second-degree tears is needed. The primary aim of this study was to assess differences in dyspareunia according to the severity of perineal tears, with a focus on subcategories of second-degree tears at three and twelve months postpartum. The secondary aim was to assess the time to resumption of intercourse after birth according to the severity of second-degree tears.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This single-center observational cohort study was conducted between January 2021 and July 2022. Women meeting the inclusion criteria were included during pregnancy. After birth, all perineal tears were classified according to RCOG recommendation, and second-degree tears were further subcategorized based on the percentage of damage to the perineum (2A, 2B, 2C). Dyspareunia and time to resumption of intercourse were collected through an electronic questionnaire at three and twelve months postpartum.

RESULTS

Our study included 857 women; of them, 51.6% (n = 442) were primipara and 48.4% (n = 415) were multipara. The percentages of women reporting dyspareunia according to the degree of the tear at three months postpartum were as follows: no tear/first-degree tear 60%, 2A-tear 60%, 2B-tear 52%, 2C-tear 77%, and episiotomy 77%; and at twelve months postpartum: no tear/first-degree tear 52%, 2A-tear 50%, 2B-tear 40%, 2C-tear 69%, and episiotomy 64%. When comparing dyspareunia between the no tear/first-degree tear category and the second-degree subcategories, no statistically significant differences were found. Women in all second-degree subcategories resumed intercourse approximately 4.8 months postpartum, compared to 3.8 months postpartum for those with no tear or first-degree tear (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no statistically significant association between the severity of second-degree tears and dyspareunia. The proportion of women reporting dyspareunia is noticeable for all perineal tear categories, with the highest rate among women with the most severe second-degree perineal tear. Women in all second-degree subcategories resumed intercourse approximately one month later than those with no tear or first-degree tear.

Subclassification of second-degree tears at delivery: creation and reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

Perineal tears at delivery are common. The current WHO classification system compacts all the varying extents of second-degree tears into one code. Some tears lead to long-term injuries. The correct identification and classification of disease is necessary for correct clinical management as well as for research. Regulatory standards govern care practices. This article describes the process of creating and testing new subclassifications for second-degree tears at delivery.

METHODS

The development and implementation of new subclassifications of second-degree perineal tears after delivery in Sweden are described. The new classification was tested for incidence and relevance via the national perineal laceration register (PLR) in 11,203 women with prospectively recorded second degree tears.

RESULTS

Second-degree tears after delivery are subdivided into four subgroups according to the anovaginal distance and the extent in length and depth of the largest perineal/vaginal tear, which can be combined with uni-or bilateral levator ani avulsion. Women with larger second-degree tears were more likely than women with smaller tears to report complications after eight weeks (OR 1.41 CI 1.21-1.64, p < 0.001) and one year (OR 1.27, CI 1.1-1.46, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Detailed subclassifications of perineal and vaginal tears are implemented in the Swedish ICD-10 coding system and Swedish national registers. The outcomes after second-degree tears differ according to their extent, which corroborates the classification rationale. These subclassifications can be used in studies of preventive measures, treatment and patient-reported outcomes and experiences taking into account the extent of second-degree perineal tears at delivery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Data regarding women were prospectively collected from the National perineal laceration register (PLR) from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.

Mediolateral episiotomy and obstetric anal sphincter injuries in nullipara: a propensity score matching study

BACKGROUND

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries are a notable adverse outcome of vaginal deliveries, with incidence rates ranging from 0.25% to 6%. Key risk factors for these injuries include primiparity and operative vaginal deliveries. In recent decades, the use of episiotomy as a preventive measure for obstetric anal sphincter injuries has been subject to extensive scrutiny. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of mediolateral episiotomy in preventing obstetric anal sphincter injuries during vaginal deliveries or vacuum-assisted deliveries within the context of selective use.

METHODS

Retrospective study of all nulliparous women with a singleton gestation who underwent term vaginal delivery or vacuum-assisted delivery. A propensity score matching with a 1:1 ratio was employed to adjust for confounders. Primary outcome was obstetric anal sphincter injury rate, and the secondary outcome was a composite neonatal outcome (umbilical artery pH < 7.1, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 5-min Apgar score < 7).

RESULTS

The study cohort comprised 22,738 deliveries: 77.0% vaginal deliveries (17,518/22,738) and 23.0% vacuum-assisted deliveries (5,220/22,738) with episiotomy rates of 38.5% (6,751/17,518) and 75.8% (3,959/5,220), respectively. Separate analyses were conducted for the matched vaginal delivery group (n = 13,500) and the matched vacuum-assisted delivery group (n = 2,518). No significant differences in obstetric anal sphincter injury rates were observed in the vaginal delivery (OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.78-1.69) or vacuum-assisted delivery (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.31-1.05) groups. However, in the vacuum-assisted delivery group, episiotomy demonstrated a borderline protective effect against obstetric anal sphincter injuries. Further adjustment for the duration of the second stage of labor duration in vacuum-assisted deliveries revealed a significant protective effect of episiotomy against obstetric anal sphincter injuries, with a number needed to treat of 28 (95% CI 15-224) in cases of prolonged second stages of labor. Episiotomy in vaginal deliveries was associated with a higher rate of composite neonatal outcome (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.45), while vacuum-assisted deliveries showed no such association (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.86-1.44).

CONCLUSIONS

In context of selective use, mediolateral episiotomy has no significant protective effect on obstetric anal sphincter injuries in women undergoing vaginal delivery. However, there is a possible benefit in vacuum-assisted delivery, especially when considering the duration of the second stage of labor.