WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for June, 2000: Re: 2nd 4th degree tear

Re: 2nd 4th degree tear

From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Tue, 13 Jun 2000 08:28:39 -0500 (CDT)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Re: ?strange behavior by gyn"
Previous message: Anonymous: "vaginal taste, no odor"
In reply to: Mona: "2nd 4th degree tear"

At Tue, 13 Jun 2000, Mona wrote: >
>I gave birth to my 2nd baby 6 weeks ago -- he weighed 10lbs 12ozs.. My
>1st child weighed 7lbs 12 ozs. I suffered a 4th degree tear with both
>births. It took my OB 2 1/2 hours to put me back together--with my son,
>because the tear was so bad.
>My first questions is what is a 4th degree tear and why does it happen.
>Second question if I plan on another baby will I have another 4th degree
>tear. Third question could I be looking at any problems in the future
>because of these awful tears??
> Thank You for your time

There are 4 potential degrees of a "vaginal tear". 1st degree tears involve just the vaginal mucosa (the lining of the vagina). 2nd degree tears, the most common type by far), involve some the the underlying connective tissue beneath the vaginal mucosa. 3rd degree tears add partial or complete disruption of the muscles that form the anal sphincter. 4th degree tears procced further, into the actual rectal mucosa, the "skin" of the rectum (not the external skin, the inside part).

There are a host of reasons for lacerations, but in the end, you are talking about pushing something large through a small opening, and if it is too big, or traveling too fast, or the tissue is not distensible enough, then a tear will occur. Scar is not as distensible as normal tissue, so once a scar is present, then the risk of subsequent tears is somewhat higher.

That is not to say that you are doomed to another laceration that severe. My wife had a 4th degree with our first, but has had two subsequent deliveries without a recurrence of a severe laceration. I flatter myself that it is because I did the last two. While the operator has a profound potential effect on the severity of a laceration, that is not the only factor, and sometimes lacerations cannot be avoided.

There is an increased risk of fecal incontinence in women who have had 3rd and 4th degree lacerations, and the effects may not be noticed until the women begin to age.

--
William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG
Clarksville, TN

This is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to be replacement
or substitute for consultation and examination by an appropriate medical
professional.  Due to time constraints, private e-mails cannot be answered.

Next message: anonymous@obgyn.net: "Re: ?strange behavior by gyn"
Previous message: Anonymous: "vaginal taste, no odor"
In reply to: Mona: "2nd 4th degree tear"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: