What is the epithelium? Why should limit episiotomy?

Many people believe that episiotomy is a necessary procedure when pregnant women give birth. However, this is not necessarily true.

An episiotomy is simply an operation that opens the way to the fetus through the vagina, preventing some serious damage and injuries to the vagina at birth. This procedure can also be used to boost birth in the event of an injury to the fetus or to insert instruments (forceps or aspirations).

Many people believe that episiotomy is a necessary procedure when pregnant women give birth . However, many studies have proven the opposite.

What is the epithelium?

The perineal layer is the part between the genitals and anus, about 4 - 5cm in length, located in the shallow part of the pelvic floor. This is a part of the muscles, ligaments stuck under the pelvis. The perineal layer functions to protect and support pelvic organs such as uterus, vagina, rectum, bladder. During a woman's childbirth, the epithelium will naturally expand or be cut so that the fetus can easily go out.

Why must cut the episiotomy when giving birth?

Studies over the course of 20 years have shown that not all cases of childbirth require an episiotomy. In fact, it should be limited to as much as possible. The World Health Organization recommends that the rate of performing an episiotomy (vulva) should be less than 10%.

This started in the eighteenth century and became widely available over the next 100 years, as medical equipment improved, and the enlargement of the vulva made it easier for doctors to manipulate with hands or with tongs. . For a long time, it was thought that episiotomy was safer than letting the vagina naturally tear. This procedure was once a common form of delivery in the hospital.

In 1983, research showed that episiotomy even increased incontinence and impaired sexual function . You should take preventive measures rather than episiotomy, but it will take more than 20 years for this policy to become a reality. Meanwhile, some hospitals still have a routine episiotomy policy.

Today, the use of this procedure is more limited, usually performed only in cases where the pregnancy is showing signs of impairment, which requires urgent delivery.

What are the risks of episiotomy?

The procedure of an episiotomy, although not life-threatening, greatly affects a woman's quality of life. Performing this procedure increases the risk of blood loss during delivery and the incidence of infection. Women who have undergone an episiotomy need a longer recovery time and feel a loss of control and pain in urinating, even after the incision has healed. At the same time, perineal incision also increases the risk of severe vulvae tear.

In addition, if the unsecured wound care after the incision can cause an episiotomy to be open, swollen, or a suture ... Therefore, you should consult your doctor about taking care of the episiotomy. Careful postpartum subjects.

Why does episiotomy increase the risk of incontinence?

After you have an episiotomy, basically, the doctor will stitch your pelvic floor muscles back to how they were before. This is essential for bladder and bowel control, as well as for sexual pleasure. But the fact is that when a part of the body has been operated, it will never fully recover as it was. It is weaker and looser. This condition contributes to increased loss of control when urinating.

This procedure is usually decided by the doctor just before the woman is about to pass labor. Before you are about to give birth, ask your doctor to consider whether or not an episiotomy is necessary in your case!