Husband stitch

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The husband stitch or husband's stitch, [1] also known as the daddy stitch, [2] husband's knot and vaginal tuck, [3] is a medically unnecessary and potentially harmful surgical procedure in which one or more additional sutures than necessary are used to repair a woman's perineum after it has been torn or cut during childbirth. [lower-alpha 1] The purported purpose is to tighten the opening of the vagina and thereby enhance the pleasure of the patient's male sex partner during penetrative intercourse. [4]

Contents

Medical perspective

While repair of the perineum may be medically necessary, an extra stitch is not, and may cause discomfort or pain. [2] [5] Use of the term in the medical literature can be traced to Transactions of the Texas State Medical Association in 1885, where a doctor claimed to have performed one. [6]

Dr. Geo. Cupples was called upon to explain the "Husband Stitch," which he did as follows: He said that when he was stitching up a ruptured perineum, of a married lady, the husband was an anxious and interested observer, and when he had taken all the stitches necessary, the husband peeped over his shoulders and said, "Dr., can't you take another stitch?" and he did, and called it the "Husband Stitch".

The term is also referenced in What Women Want to Know (1958), [lower-alpha 2] and in The Year After Childbirth: Surviving and Enjoying the First Year of Motherhood, written by Sheila Kitzinger in 1994. [8]

Some medical practitioners have asserted that the procedure is mostly an urban legend, and false attribution, [2] while others have claimed to know doctors who perform the procedure. [9] The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, according to a report by Fatherly, does not deny that the procedure happens but alleges that it "is not standard or common". [2] Other doctors, such as Jean Marty, head of the Union of Gynecologists in France, have claimed that the idea of a husband stitch comes from botched episiotomies and poor stitching, that lead women to have pain during sexual intercourse and while urinating. [10]

However, there are several accounts of women who claim to have undergone this procedure without their consent. [11] There have been several journalistic investigations on the existence of the husband stitch, trying to determine if it was real. They have overwhelmingly determined that the practice does exist, as seen in reports by Chelsea Ritschel, [5] by Kaitlin Reilly for Yahoo Life, [12] by Anam Alam to Thred, [13] in reports from French Newspapers Grazia, [14] and Le Monde . [10]

Belgian researchers Julie Dobbeleir, Koenraad Van Landuyt and Stan J. Monstrey have studied the practice, finding evidence of it happening in Belgium at least since the 1950s: [15]

Vaginal tightening surgery has been around since the mid-fifties, where gynecologists used to tighten the entrance of a woman's vagina with an extra stitch while repairing vaginal and perineum tears or episiotomies after giving birth. At that time it was notoriously known as the "husband's stitch," the "husband's knot," or the "vaginal tuck," and doctors discreetly referred to this procedure as "improving a woman's well-being."

The husband stitch has also been referenced in a 2004 study about the abuse of episiotomies in São Paulo: [16]

Professionals we have interviewed often mention the ponto do marido (husband's stitch), intended to make the vaginal opening even tighter after delivery. Frequent complications are vulval and vaginal pain, scarring problems, and deformities that need further surgical correction. Long-term consequences for sexual relations of episiotomy need further study.

Similarly, in Cambodia, the practice has been linked to high rates of episiotomy: [17]

A study in the NIH database found that the continued use of episiotomies in Cambodia was due to many doctors' belief that they would provide women with a 'tighter and prettier vagina' if they gave her an episiotomy.

A short story by Carmen Maria Machado, "The Husband Stitch", first published in 2014 by Granta and later published in the collection Her Body and Other Parties , describes a woman undergoing the procedure. [18]

In Doom Patrol 's season 2 2020 premiere, Cliff's father tells him, "When that baby doctor asks if you want the husband stitch, you tell him, 'I'll take two.'" [19]

In Colin From Accounts ' 2022 season 1 episode 4, a patient's male companion asks the protagonist student doctor to "throw another stitch in there, make it like new" and later on a different patient's male companion asks her to "chuck a husband stitch in there". [20]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Vaginal tightening surgery has been around since the mid fifties, where gynecologists used to tighten the entrance of a woman's vagina with an extra stitch while repairing vaginal and perineum tears or episiotomies after giving birth. At that time it was notoriously known as the 'husband's stitch', the 'husband's knot', or the 'vaginal tuck', and doctors discreetly referred to this procedure as 'improving a woman's well-being'." [3]
  2. ↑ "Such a problem confronted a colleague of mine, whose pregnant patient asked him before delivery if he would please put in what she referred to as 'her husband's stitch'. It turned out that she wanted him to tighten up her vagina somewhat, so that it would revert to its original state. The doctor took her at her word and, following delivery of her fourth baby, performed a perineorrhaphy. This operation has the effect of tightening the sphincter and rendering the introitus somewhat smaller.
    "Unhappily, the patient and her husband decided that the 'stitch' had been made too tight, was unsatisfactory, and sued the doctor for malpractice, asking something in the neighborhood of a hundred thousand dollars. The doctor won his case, though not without difficulty, and it was a genuine legal battle despite the humorous implications of the issue." [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vagina</span> Part of the female reproductive tract

In mammals and other animals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix. The vaginal introitus is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen. The vagina allows for copulation and birth. It also channels menstrual flow, which occurs in humans and closely related primates as part of the menstrual cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gynaecology</span> Medical area for womens reproductive health

Gynaecology or gynecology is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the female reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, which focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, thereby forming the combined area of obstetrics and gynaecology (OB-GYN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perineum</span> Region of the body between the genitals and anus

The perineum in placental mammals is the space between the anus and the genitals. The human perineum is between the anus and scrotum in the male or between the anus and vulva in the female. The perineum is the region of the body between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx, including the perineal body and surrounding structures. The perineal raphe is visible and pronounced to varying degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Episiotomy</span> Surgical incision of the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall

Episiotomy, also known as perineotomy, is a surgical incision of the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall generally done by an obstetrician. This is usually performed during the second stage of labor to quickly enlarge the aperture, allowing the baby to pass through. The incision, which can be done from the posterior midline of the vulva straight toward the anus or at an angle to the right or left, is performed under local anesthetic, and is sutured after delivery.

Gender-affirming surgery for male-to-female transgender women or transfeminine non-binary people describes a variety of surgical procedures that alter the body to provide physical traits more comfortable and affirming to an individual's gender identity and overall functioning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectocele</span> Bulging of the rectum into the vaginal wall

In gynecology, a rectocele or posterior vaginal wall prolapse results when the rectum bulges (herniates) into the vagina. Two common causes of this defect are childbirth and hysterectomy. Rectocele also tends to occur with other forms of pelvic organ prolapse, such as enterocele, sigmoidocele and cystocele.

Vaginoplasty is any surgical procedure that results in the construction or reconstruction of the vagina. It is a type of genitoplasty. Pelvic organ prolapse is often treated with one or more surgeries to repair the vagina. Sometimes a vaginoplasty is needed following the treatment or removal of malignant growths or abscesses to restore a normal vaginal structure and function. Surgery to the vagina is done to correct congenital defects to the vagina, urethra and rectum. It may correct protrusion of the urinary bladder into the vagina (cystocele) and protrusion of the rectum (rectocele) into the vagina. Often, a vaginoplasty is performed to repair the vagina and its attached structures due to trauma or injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectovaginal fistula</span> Medical condition

A rectovaginal fistula is a medical condition where there is a fistula or abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cystocele</span> Protrusion of the bladder into the vagina

The cystocele, also known as a prolapsed bladder, is a medical condition in which a woman's bladder bulges into her vagina. Some may have no symptoms. Others may have trouble starting urination, urinary incontinence, or frequent urination. Complications may include recurrent urinary tract infections and urinary retention. Cystocele and a prolapsed urethra often occur together and is called a cystourethrocele. Cystocele can negatively affect quality of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labiaplasty</span> Plastic surgery procedure for altering the labia minora

Labiaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure for creating or altering the labia minora and the labia majora, the folds of skin of the human vulva. It is a type of vulvoplasty. There are two main categories of women seeking cosmetic genital surgery: those with conditions such as intersex, and those with no underlying condition who experience physical discomfort or wish to alter the appearance of their vulvas because they believe they do not fall within a normal range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vesicovaginal fistula</span> Female urogenital fissure

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is a subtype of female urogenital fistula (UGF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uterine prolapse</span> Medical condition

Uterine prolapse is a form of pelvic organ prolapse in which the uterus and a portion of the upper vagina protrude into the vaginal canal and, in severe cases, through the opening of the vagina. It is most often caused by injury or damage to structures that hold the uterus in place within the pelvic cavity. Symptoms may include vaginal fullness, pain with sexual intercourse, difficulty urinating, and urinary incontinence. Risk factors include older age, pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, obesity, chronic constipation, and chronic cough. Prevalence, based on physical exam alone, is estimated to be approximately 14%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pelvic examination</span> Physical medical examination

A pelvic examination is the physical examination of the external and internal female pelvic organs. It is frequently used in gynecology for the evaluation of symptoms affecting the female reproductive and urinary tract, such as pain, bleeding, discharge, urinary incontinence, or trauma. It can also be used to assess a woman's anatomy in preparation for procedures. The exam can be done awake in the clinic and emergency department, or under anesthesia in the operating room. The most commonly performed components of the exam are 1) the external exam, to evaluate the vulva 2) the internal exam with palpation to examine the uterus, ovaries, and structures adjacent to the uterus (adnexae) and 3) the internal exam using a speculum to visualize the vaginal walls and cervix. During the pelvic exam, sample of cells and fluids may be collected to screen for sexually transmitted infections or cancer.

Urogynecology or urogynaecology is a surgical sub-specialty of urology and gynecology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood reduction</span> Cosmetic surgical procedure

Clitoral hood reduction, also termed clitoral hoodectomy, clitoral unhooding, clitoridotomy, or (partial) hoodectomy, is a plastic surgery procedure for reducing the size and the area of the clitoral hood in order to further expose the glans of the clitoris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perineoplasty</span> Plastic surgery procedure

Perineoplasty denotes the plastic surgery procedures used to correct clinical conditions of the vagina and the anus. Among the vagino-anal conditions resolved by perineoplasty are vaginal looseness, vaginal itching, damaged perineum, fecal incontinence, genital warts, dyspareunia, vaginal stenosis, vaginismus, vulvar vestibulitis, and decreased sexual sensation. Depending upon the vagino-anal condition to be treated, there are two variants of the perineoplasty procedure: the first, to tighten the perineal muscles and the vagina; the second, to loosen the perineal muscles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perineal tear</span> Medical condition

A perineal tear is a laceration of the skin and other soft tissue structures which, in women, separate the vagina from the anus. Perineal tears mainly occur in women as a result of vaginal childbirth, which strains the perineum. It is the most common form of obstetric injury. Tears vary widely in severity. The majority are superficial and may require no treatment, but severe tears can cause significant bleeding, long-term pain or dysfunction. A perineal tear is distinct from an episiotomy, in which the perineum is intentionally incised to facilitate delivery. Episiotomy, a very rapid birth, or large fetal size can lead to more severe tears which may require surgical intervention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pain management during childbirth</span>

Pain management during childbirth is the partial treatment and a way of reducing any pain that a woman may experience during labor and delivery. The amount of pain a woman feels during labor depends partly on the size and position of her baby, the size of her pelvis, her emotions, the strength of the contractions, and her outlook. Tension increases pain during labor. Virtually all women worry about how they will cope with the pain of labor and delivery. Childbirth is different for each woman and predicting the amount of pain experienced during birth and delivery can not be certain.

Abuse during childbirth is generally defined as interactions or conditions deemed humiliating or undignified by local consensus and interactions or conditions experienced as or intended to be humiliating or undignifying. Bowser and Hill's 2010 landscape analysis defined seven categories of abusive or disrespectful care, including physical abuse, non-consented clinical care, non-confidential care, non-dignified care, discrimination, abandonment, and detention in health facilities.

Vaginal trauma is injury to the vagina. It can happen during childbirth, sexual assault, and accidental occurrences.

References

  1. ↑ Kitzinger, Sheila (1994). The Year After Childbirth (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 71. ISBN   978-0192177841.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Vinopal, Lauren (17 August 2017). "Who's Afraid of the 'Husband Stitch'? New Moms Everywhere". Fatherly. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 Dobbeleir, Julie M. L. C. L.; Van Landuyt, Koenraad; Monstrey, Stan J. (May 2011). "Aesthetic surgery of the female genitalia". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 25 (2): 130–41. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1281482. PMC   3312147 . PMID   22547970.
  4. ↑ Braun, Virginia; Kitzinger, Celia (January 2001). "The perfectible vagina: Size matters". Culture, Health & Sexuality. 3 (3): 263–277. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.552.8931 . doi:10.1080/13691050152484704. S2CID   143982758.
  5. 1 2 Ritschel, Chelsea (29 January 2018). "The 'Husband Stitch' During Episiotomy Repair is a Disturbing Reality for Many New Mothers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Transactions of the Texas State Medical Association. Vol. Seventeenth Annual Session. Houston, Texas: Texas State Medical Association. 21–23 April 1885.
  7. ↑ Imerman, Harold M.; Dewey, Thomas Blanchard (1958). What Women Want to Know: A Noted Gynecologist's Guide to the Personal Problems of Women's Health. New York: Crown. p. 134.
  8. ↑ Kitzinger, Sheila (1994). The Year After Childbirth: Surviving and Enjoying the First Year of Motherhood. HarperCollins Canada. ISBN   9780002550727.
  9. ↑ "Le point du mari, un vrai scandale?" [The husband stitch, a real scandal?]. elle.fr (in French). 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  10. 1 2 Jeantet, Diane (2014-04-18). "Derrière le " point du mari ", le traumatisme de l'épisiotomie" [Behind the “husband stitch”, the trauma of episiotomy]. Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  11. ↑ Halton, Mary (26 April 2018). "The 'Husband Stitch' Leaves Women in Pain and Without Answers". Vice.
  12. ↑ Reilly, Kaitlin (21 February 2023). "Is 'the husband stitch' a medical myth? Women speak out about their experience". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  13. ↑ Alam, Anam (2023-01-17). "Understanding the pain behind the 'husband stitch'". Thred Website. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  14. ↑ Mezaguer, Louhann; auteurs-louhann_mezaguer (2021-11-26). "Point du mari : tout savoir sur cette mutilation gynécologique faite à l'insu des femmes en post-partum pour favoriser le plaisir de l'homme" [Husband stitch: everything you need to know about this gynecological mutilation carried out without the knowledge of postpartum women to promote the man's pleasure]. Grazia (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  15. ↑ Dobbeleir, Julie M. L. C. L.; Landuyt, Koenraad Van; Monstrey, Stan J. (May 2011). "Aesthetic Surgery of the Female Genitalia". Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 25 (2): 130–141. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1281482. ISSN   1535-2188. PMC   3312147 . PMID   22547970.
  16. ↑ Diniz, Simone G; Chacham, Alessandra S (2004-01-01). ""The Cut Above" and "the Cut Below": The Abuse of Caesareans and Episiotomy in São Paulo, Brazil". Reproductive Health Matters. 12 (23): 100–110. doi: 10.1016/S0968-8080(04)23112-3 . ISSN   0968-8080. PMID   15242215. S2CID   25469154.
  17. ↑ Schantz, Clémence; Sim, Kruy Leang; Ly, Ek Meng; Barennes, Hubert; Sudaroth, So; Goyet, Sophie (May 2015). "Reasons for routine episiotomy: A mixed-methods study in a large maternity hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia". Reproductive Health Matters. 23 (45): 68–77. doi: 10.1016/j.rhm.2015.06.012 . ISSN   1460-9576. PMID   26278834. S2CID   23339273.
  18. ↑ Machado, Carmen Maria (28 October 2014). "The Husband Stitch". Granta . Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  19. ↑ "Make it Tighter: The Husband's Stitch". livewire.thewire.in. 2022-04-13. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  20. ↑ "Colin From Accounts Season 1 Episode 4 Recap". reelmockery.com. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2022-12-15.

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