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Episiotomy Scar Reopening - GRAPHIC PHOTO WARNING

5 replies

DodgyVaginaSOS · 02/02/2025 19:07

Hi All,

I apologise for the graphic picture below - and I have of course name changed!

I have a nearly 3 year old who gave me a rough time during labour. I ended up having an episiotomy and internal tears.

We waited 6 months before any sexual activity after birth, and everything had healed up nicely. But from the very first time the pain during foreplay or sex was excruciating.

I went to my GP and had a full examination, by two seperate GP's who diagnosed Vulvodynia - For those that don't know the Google description is;
Vulvodynia is long-lasting pain in the vulva, the area around the opening of the vagina.
A cause for vulvodynia cannot always be found. Sometimes it’s caused by nerve damage from surgery or giving birth.

That somewhat made sense, but the pain was only during activities, which is the only bit that didn't add up. I was referred to physiotherapy and was given some excersises to do, and advised to buy a dilator. I was then discharged.

For the last year and a half I have avoided any bedroom activities as much as I can, but on the odd occasion we have engaged, I've been in a lot of pain.

Last night, we gave it another go and it was once again excruciating - even just 1 finger was painful and I couldn't continue. I asked my husband to investigate. Down he went with 2 torches to have a good look and take a picture.

It seems quite obvious now why it was painful - I don't tend to inspect at quite so close range so I've never seen this before.

I have 2 questions - where the cut is, is that likely to be my episiotomy scar? And secondly, what is that yellow lump?!

Of course I will be calling my Dr tomorrow, but I'd be interested to know if anyone else has ever had a problem like this with episiotomy scar and what the outcome was?

Thanks for reading this far. And sorry!

OP posts:
SPsmama · 02/02/2025 19:18

Episiotomy scars are usually on the right, I think I can see it on the opposite side. It looks like split skin to me but I'm not medical. You haven't cut yourself shaving or anything?

DodgyVaginaSOS · 02/02/2025 19:28

Ahh okay, you may well be right because my husband also thought it was on the right hand side from memory of where the nurse was stitching!

Definitely not cut myself, I only ever have a tidy up with beard trimmers with a safety guard these days!

When the skin is not stretched it is a straight cut by the looks of it. I'm unsure if the lump is related however.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 02/02/2025 19:41

I had an episiotomy 9.5 months ago now and agree with previous poster (based on what my own looks like) that the scar for that is the one opposite the cut. That cut on the photo looks like a scratch or something similar to me, like a shaving cut, fingernail etc rather than any kind of post-birth related cut

EveryNightInMyDreams · 03/02/2025 13:31

Ooo OP you poor thing.

ther looks like a skin tear if I’m honest. The lump looks like a pustule - so a contained infection. But I’m not medical so don’t quote me. I hope the doctors can sort you out!

Hiccupsandteacups · 03/02/2025 13:34

I agree it looks like a cut

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