?Postpartum Perineal pain?
Granulation tissue is a normal part of wound healing, but like all “normal” processes sometimes it can become abnormal.
Hi! We are Drs. Sarah and Alicia, two maternity docs and moms🤰🏻, wanting to support you with information on your journey from pregnancy to parenthood!
Vaginal mucosa that has torn during delivery has to heal, whether or not stitches are needed. The healing process produces new connective tissue that fills the area of tearing and then scars. This tissue can sometimes grow out of the top of the wound. This tissue is very vascular and bleeds easily. It is also very sensitive. While this is a normal part of the healing process, when it is on the outside of the wound it can cause problems for the postpartum person.
🛑Most perineal tears will be healed by about 4 weeks postpartum. If you are experiencing pain when your vulva is touched after that point there is a possibility of your body having created excessive granulation tissue. Depending on where your laceration is you may or may not be able to see it as dark pink shiny mounds of flesh overlying where your tear and or repair occurred.
⭐️This happens in about 3% of postpartum people who have had a vaginal delivery. The more complicated the repair, the likelier it is to occur, and as tearing is more likely to occur with your first vaginal delivery it is happens more frequently in this population.
The good news is that this can be treated! If you are 6-8 weeks postpartum and are still having pain in your vagina or vulva, please talk to your care provider! Or if you have resumed sexual activity and having pain in one area consistently.
The treatment for this prior to 6 weeks is using sitz baths to help keep the area clean and soothed, if it is persistent beyond 6 weeks we can offer management in the office which resolves most of the cases. In rare circumstances the abnormal tissue needs to be removed surgically, but this is relatively rare.
Did you have granulation tissue?
