Is there anything I can do to ease taut scar tissue?

[Hopefully]

I had a 3rd degree tear when I gave birth to DS (20 weeks). The stitching looks very neat, and I have no major pain, but it generally feels a bit tight and uncomfortable.

Lovely GP says that it has been stitched a tad tightly, but not badly iykwim, and has said that if I really want to have repair work done I can do (she is v supportive of whatever I want), but she would suggest giving it a couple more months and seeing how I go before doing anything. I'm happy to do this, as I'm not suffering massively, and I really want to avoid more stitching etc.

Needless to say DP and I have not even attempted any action whatsoever!

Is there anything I can do to help ease the scar tissue, and perhaps make the whole ordeal of attempting sex for the first time a little less horrific? Any ideas much appreciated, want to get back in the saddle so we can have a couple of months of a normal sex life before we TTC number 2!

Yes there is indeed something you can do - and all it requires is a finger or two! Basically, what you need to do is gently stretch the tight area, and it will gradually loosen up. If you do it after each trip to the loo, you'll start to feel the difference in maybe a week or two.

AFAIK any repair work would still leave you with a scar, which is always slightly tougher and tauter than the surrounding skin, so if you think it's been done neatly but is just a bit tight, then it should ease out with a bit of gentle persistence.

HTH!

Thanks very much!

I think you're probably right about repair work - as the problem appears to be tightness rather than a botched repair job (in fact, it is rather impressive looking embroidery!), I don't see how a repair job would improve the situation.

Will get going on the oh-so-dignified stretching and hope that it improves things.

Hi there, I've had perineal repair ops and agree with getting hands on! I would also use an oil rich in vitamin E, such as wheatgerm.

If it's your perineum you're talking about, then if you pop you thumb in your vagina, your index and neighbouring finger on your perineum and rub in small firm circular movements you can break down some scar tissue.

Hopefully that will work, and if not you can search more info on here about Cortisone injections and/or dilators.

good luck!

Hello Lotster!

I am one of the women that lotster is referring to - I've had cortisone injections and used dilators, as well as doing the massage that she and muminscotland are talking about. My story is definitely a success story as we were discussing repair surgery, but I am not going to need it.

In my experience - dilators are the best for increasing capacity (and reducing the fear of penetration before you attempt sex itself) - massage is the best to reduce tautness at the entrance to the vagina - and cortisone injections are the best to reduce large lumpy scar tissue.

Good luck.

Hey Mrs T

Thanks very much. I think tautness is the primary problem (thankfully no obviously alarming scar tissue), so i'll start with the massage and think about things like dilators if necessary in a few weeks.

Ah, the glamour of children...