Third-degree tear in childbirth: what to know

The perineum is the area between the vagina and anus. A third-degree birth tear reaches the anal sphincter, the muscle that helps hold in gas and stool. It is repaired with stitches after the birth, with attention to restoring the muscle and surrounding tissue. Tenderness and altered bowel habits can occur during recovery, but persistent leakage, severe pain, or a wound problem needs assessment rather than waiting for a routine visit.

Use the prescribed pain relief and bowel-softening treatment, drink enough fluid, and avoid straining. Keep the perineal area clean and dry as advised, change pads regularly, and build activity slowly. A review can assess the wound, bowel control, pain, and sexual wellbeing. Postnatal physiotherapy may help restore pelvic floor coordination, while perineal repair explains the repair process and recovery care.

Call your maternity team for fever, worsening swelling or redness, foul-smelling discharge, increasing pain, wound separation, difficulty passing urine, or bleeding that becomes heavy. Get urgent help for severe illness, inability to control stool, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Do not feel you must wait for a scheduled postnatal check if something feels wrong.

Ask what part of the sphincter was torn, how to prevent constipation, when examination and physiotherapy are planned, and when returning to sex or higher-impact activity is reasonable. Ask how to report leakage or persistent pain.