Frequency and Side Effect of Episiotomy in Primiparous Women: A Three- Month Longitudinal Survey

Abstract Episiotomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in obstetrics; approximately 33%of women giving birth vaginally in 2000 had episiotomy but the best technique of episiotomy and its clinical benefits remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine episiotomy prevalence and its clinical complications in women with vaginal delivery in teaching hospitals in Tehran during 3 months after child birth. This deh1ive study was conducted on 510 primiparous women in teaching hospitals in Tehran. The Data were collected using interviews 1 10 40 and 90 days after delivery and after recorded in special forms. Episiotomy was performed in 97.3 % of primiparous women who gave birth vaginally.32.3 % of women had midline episiotomy and 67.7 % had medio- lateral episiotomy. Episiotomy complications included: perineal pain reported by 96.4 % at one 63 % after 10 days 25 % after 40days and 12 % at three months after birth. Dyspareunia on 10 40 the day and 3 months after delivery was reported to be 100 % 66 %and 31.2 % respectively. The prevalence of Episiotomy is higher here in Iran than that of any other country and prevalence of mediolatral episiotomy is higher than median episiotomy in Iran despite its difficulties. Therefore it seems logical that the prevalence of its complications (preneal pain and dyspareunia) is also higher in Iranian women.