Ask Dr R: childbirth tear from 19 years ago still a problem…

Dr. Romanzi, 19 years ago I gave birth to my daughter, and while she was being delivered I was torn from my vaginal opening to my anus. The Dr. didn’t repair the torn skin correctly, and I am very self conscious about this. I also have a very hard time wipeing my BM all the way. Is their anything that can be done for this?

Thank K

Dear K,
Even with correct technique at the time of delivery these deep tears often don’t heal perfectly due to the swelling and hormonal changes in skin and deep connective tissues during pregnancy and delivery that result in less than optimal healing from childbirth tears. That said, it is very likely that your anatomy and function can be restored or significantly improved with reconstructive surgical repair of the perineum (perineoplasty) and/or anal sphincter (anal sphincteroplasty). Sometimes perineoplasty alone is enough. Whether one or both procedures might be advised can only be determined through clinical examination, after which various other imaging and colorectal tests might be advised to determine the optimal procedure(s) for your personal situation. It’s been 19 years! Pull this up to the top of your priority list and get the information you need. Thanks for sharing your story. Please keep us posted!

Dr R