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Parturition after vestibulectomy
Lara J Burrows1, Maryn Sloane, Gordon Davis
1Summa-Health System, Akron, OH 44304, USA. burrowslj@yahoo.com
Introduction:
Provoked vestibulodynia is the most common cause of sexual pain in premenopausal women. Vulvar vestibulectomy has been shown to be an effective treatment.
Aim:
To determine the optimum route of parturition in women who become pregnant after vulvar vestibulectomy.
Methods:
All women who underwent a complete vulvar vestibulectomy by one of four surgeons were contacted between 12 and 72 months after surgery. For all women who had a term pregnancy and subsequent delivery, the research assistant abstracted data from the charts. Descriptive statistics were applied.
Main Outcome Measures:
The number of women who underwent a delivery after a vestibulectomy, mode of delivery, and rate of perineal lacerations.
Results:
Of 109 women, 44 (40%) had undergone at least one term pregnancy and delivery; 23 (52%) were vaginal, and 21 (48%) were cesarean deliveries. Of the vaginal deliveries, 11 (48%) were over an intact perineum. Three (13%) women had a midline episiotomy, none of which extended into third or fourth degree lacerations and one woman (4.4%) sustained a spontaneous fourth degree perineal laceration.
Conclusions:
Vaginal delivery after vulvar vestibulectomy appears to be a safe option, with no increased perineal morbidity above the general population. Furthermore, it is not an indication for a cesarean delivery.
