Open AccessCan women with intrapartum rupture of anal sphincter still suffer after‐effects two decades later?
Author(s) -
Haadem Knut,
Gudmundsson Saemundur
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349709024592
Subject(s) - medicine , anal sphincter , sphincter , vaginal delivery , pregnancy , obstetrics , anal canal , obstetric labor complication , episiotomy , gynecology , surgery , rectum , biology , genetics
Background. Recent research has revealed that women who suffer anal sphincter rupture (ASR) during delivery can experience persisting complaints some time afterwards. Examinations have been made some years postpartum, but it would be of interest to know if women with anal sphincer rupture might still have complaints attributable to the tear, two decades later. Method and material. A questionnaire was mailed to women with recorded intrapartum anal sphincter rupture ( n =66) and to matched controls without anal sphincter rupture ( n =66), two decades after the event. Results. Forty‐one of the anal sphincter rupture women and 38 controls replied. Anal problems were more often experienced by the anal sphincter rupture subjects ( n =18) than by the controls ( n =7) (p<0.01). Complaints such as anal fissures, gas incontinence and leakage into lingerie were significantly more common in the sphincter rupture group. Four claimed the physic trauma had deterred them from further pregnancy; two had nevertheless given birth later on. Five (12%) of the women were unaware that they had sustained a sphincter tear. Conclusion. Women with intrapartum anal sphincter rupture can still suffer problems 20 years afterwards. In the follow‐up of these women, information and support are essential and active tracing of such women is to be recommended.