HomeHealth articleshusband stitchWhat Is a Husband Stitch?

Husband Stitch - Malpractice Masquerading as a Legal Medical Procedure

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The husband stitch involves one or more sutures to repair a woman's perineum torn or cut during childbirth. Read to know the details.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Natasha Bansal

Published At October 26, 2022
Reviewed AtApril 26, 2023

What Is a Husband Stitch?

The perineal muscles can tear during childbirth. As a result, the doctors may perform an episiotomy (a surgical technique in which a portion of the perineum is nicked to allow for the baby's delivery). In addition, an extra stitch is sewed to the vaginal hole while suturing the perineal tear after delivery, making the opening narrower than before childbirth.

The husband stitch (husband's knot, daddy stitch, or vaginal tuck) has been used by obstetricians since the 1950s. It is a sort of female genital mutilation in which an extra stitch is added to boost the vaginal tightness and the male partner's sexual enjoyment.

Why Is a Husband Stitch Placed?

A husband stitch can be placed for the following reasons-

  • The vagina is a muscle that can dilate (stretch open) to allow the delivery of a baby. The vaginal opening may not be large enough to accept the baby's head in some cases. A gynecologist may perform an episiotomy (an episiotomy is a surgical incision made between the vaginal and anal openings in the perineum) instead of risking a major vaginal tear. An episiotomy widens the vaginal hole, making it easier for the infant to pass through. These stitches can be placed to repair the tear.

  • According to doctors, this procedure could improve a woman's well-being by preserving the size and form of her vaginal canal, either to increase the frequency of her orgasms or improve a man's pleasure in intercourse.

What Are the Advantages of Getting a Husband Stitch?

The vaginal muscle grows during labor and delivery, but it should gradually return to its pre-labor state. The husband stitch is not a medically approved procedure, and it does not have any advantages for the woman or her partner. Tightening the vaginal aperture will almost certainly result in painful intercourse for both parties.

What Are the Drawbacks of Getting a Husband Stitch?

The following are the drawbacks of getting a husband stitch:

  • Standing up straight creates pain and discomfort.

  • After having delivery, women are unable to walk for a longer amount of time.

  • Sex can be uncomfortable for both partners, particularly women, who may feel more pain and fear and avoid sex.

  • Persistent infections.

  • Tearing of scar tissue.

  • Urinary incontinence.

  • Emotional distress.

  • Inflammation and discomfort in the vaginal opening.

  • Disfigurement.

  • Damage to nerve endings causes a lack of sensation in the affected area.

  • Emotional trauma.

  • Inability to use tampons.

  • Uterine prolapse.

  • Episiotomy might be required for future childbirths.

The following points show whether husband stitch is a real thing or just a myth-

  • The husband stitch is not a recognized medical treatment. There are no studies or medical papers that show how common the practice is or how many women had husbands stitch.

  • The majority of the material on the controversial technique comes from social media forums or firsthand accounts of women who claim to have these stitches without their consent.

  • The stitching of the husband is considered malpractice, and any doctor or other healthcare worker who performs the surgery can be sued. When a person is injured or mutilated as a result of a healthcare provider's mistake, they have the right to file a medical malpractice case for compensation.

Do Women Ever Ask For Husband Stitches?

Most people are not familiar with the process of husband stitch, so it is unlikely for them to ask for it. Secondly, it causes sexual dysfunction, so most people will try to avoid it. A vaginoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that can be used if a lady has a low vaginal muscle tone after previous childbirths.

Is It Possible for a Woman to Get a Husband Stitch Without Her Consent?

Some women claim that they had husbands stitch without their consent. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), appropriate local anesthetic and the woman's informed consent are required when performing an episiotomy. During her postpartum recuperation, a woman may not realize how comprehensive her perineal repair was until she begins to suffer pain or complications.

How to Avoid a Husband Stitch?

Women should discuss their preferred childbirth plan with their gynecologist. In addition, they should inquire how often the doctor performs episiotomies and what the operation entails.

Is It Possible to Request a Husband Stitch?

Doctors are not trained to do this procedure. It is vital to highlight that the husband stitch is not a common practice or a medically approved technique.

Is It Possible for You to Repair the Husband Stitch?

Sometimes, the muscles do not heal properly due to infection or rupture of the stitches. In certain circumstances, a surgical treatment called a perineoplasty can be used to repair, which involves resewing the perineal muscles together rather than just the skin.

What Is the Frequency of the Husband Stitch?

The husband stitch is considered a medical myth by some who do not believe it is real. Despite the fact that it is not common, many women are still victims of the husband stitch after giving birth.

What Are the Husband Stitch's Side Effects?

Common side effects include difficulty in walking, leg pain on standing for longer durations, reopening of scar tissue, infections, chronic pain, swelling, painful sexual intercourse, fear of sex, and emotional trauma.

What Is the Husband Stitch, and How Does It Work?

The husband stitch is a term for an extra stitch that some women claim they received while having an episiotomy or a vaginal tear repaired.

Is Husband Stitch a Myth or a Fact?

The husband stitch is not a recognized medical treatment. There are no studies or medical papers that show how common the practice is or how many women have had husband stitches.

What Exactly Is the Function of a Husband Stitch?

This stitch goes beyond what is required to mend a natural tear after childbirth or an episiotomy incision. The husband stitch's apparent function is to constrict the vagina to its pre-delivery state.

How Do You Tell if You Have Had Husband Stitch?

The husband stitch is considered malpractice, and any doctor or other healthcare worker who performs the surgery can be sued. In addition, when a person is injured or mutilated as a result of a healthcare provider's mistake, they have the right to file a medical malpractice case for compensation.

Conclusion:

The "husband stitch" is an extra stitch that some women may have received after their perineum was ripped or torn during vaginal delivery. Episiotomy is a procedure that is routinely used during childbirth. The husband stitches performed in conjunction with the episiotomy, on the other hand, is not as common. There have been no scientific studies to estimate how many women have been harmed, and there is no clear method to measure how frequently the husband stitch is used in obstetrics. Women, on the other hand, have shared anecdotes and warned others. This demonstrates that the practice is quite real and has had a significant impact on many people. It is an out-of-date technique with no proven medical benefit or application. This surgery should never be carried out without the woman's permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Is a Husband Stitch?

The husband stitch or husband's knot, daddy stitch, or vaginal tuck has been used by obstetricians since the 1950s. It is a sort of female genital mutilation. An extra stitch is added to facilitate the vaginal tightness and the male partner's sexual enjoyment.

2.

Is Husband Stitch a Legal Medical Practice?

The husband stitch is not a recognized medical treatment. No studies or medical papers show how common the practice is or how many women had husbands stitched. The majority of the material on the controversial technique comes from social media forums or firsthand accounts of women who claim to have these stitches without their consent.

3.

Can I Sue the Doctor for Husband Stitch?

The stitching of the husband is considered malpractice, and any doctor or other healthcare worker who performs the surgery can be sued. In addition, when a person is injured or mutilated due to a healthcare provider's mistake, they have the right to file a medical malpractice case for compensation

4.

What Muscles Are Torn in Perineal Tear?

 
The perineal muscles can tear during childbirth. As a result, the doctors may perform an episiotomy (a surgical technique in which a portion of the perineum is nicked to allow for the baby's delivery). In addition, an extra stitch is sewn to the vaginal hole while suturing the perineal tear after delivery, making the opening narrower than before childbirth.

5.

What Are the Advantages of Getting a Husband Stitch?

The vaginal muscle grows during labor and delivery but should gradually return to its pre-labor state. The husband stitch is not medically approved and has no advantages for the woman or her partner. Tightening the vaginal aperture will almost certainly result in painful intercourse for both parties.

6.

How to Avoid a Husband Stitch?

Women should discuss their preferred childbirth plan with their gynecologist. In addition, they should inquire how often the doctor performs episiotomies and what the operation entails

7.

How Can You Reduce the Risk of Perineal Tearing?

The vagina is a muscle that can dilate (stretch open) to allow the delivery of a baby. In some cases, the vaginal opening may not be large enough to accept the baby's head. A gynecologist may perform an episiotomy (an episiotomy is a surgical incision between the vaginal and anal openings in the perineum) instead of risking a major vaginal tear. An episiotomy widens the vaginal hole, making it easier for the infant to pass through. These stitches can be placed to repair the tear.

8.

What Are the Drawbacks of Getting a Husband Stitch?

The following are the drawbacks of getting a husband stitch:
-Standing up straight creates pain and discomfort.
 
-After delivery, women cannot walk for a longer time.
 
-Sex can be uncomfortable for both partners, particularly women, who may feel more painand fear and avoid sex.
 
-Persistent infections.
 
-Tearing of scar tissue.

9.

Why Is a Husband Stitch Placed?

According to doctors, a husband stitch procedure could improve a woman's well-being by preserving the size and form of her vaginal canal, either to increase the frequency of her orgasms or improve a man's pleasure in intercourse.
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Dr. Natasha Bansal
Dr. Natasha Bansal

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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