Labia tear

Where is the labia?

The labia is around the opening of the vagina. The labia is made up of two sets of skin folds, the inner set called the labia minora, are small and hairless. The outer set, the labia majora, are larger, with hair on the outer surface.

The labia

What is a labial tear?

A labial tear is a tear of the skin or soft tissues around the vagina. This can include the labia minora or majora or the clitoral hood.

What to expect if you have a labial tear 

If a midwife or obstetrician notices that you have a labial tear, you will be offered to have it stitched. If there are labial tears on both sides, it is often best to repair them separately so the edges don’t heal together narrowing the vaginal entrance. If the tear is not sutured, this can lead to the area healing misaligned.  

Following a labial repair, some may find that one side of their labia is longer than before, and sometimes the skin can remain split where it once joined together. 

You may feel pain or soreness around the tear for several weeks after giving birth, especially when walking, sitting or using the toilet. 

Sometimes labial tears may heal as separate pieces, or result in excess skin, which may sometimes cause pain and discomfort. If you have any worries or concerns about the way the labial tear is healing, if the pain is not getting any better after a few weeks. 

Helping the wound to heal 

You may feel pain or soreness around the tear for several weeks after giving birth, especially when walking, sitting or using the toilet. 

You can encourage healing by keeping the area clean by having a short bath or a shower at least once a day to remove bacteria, and change your sanitary pads regularly to reduce the risk of infection. An ice pack may be helpful if the area is bruised and/or swollen - Do not place these directly on the skin as this can cause further damage. 

When to seek advice 

Labial tears are common and usually heal well, but if you experience any ongoing pain, discomfort, feeling unwell or are unhappy with the new appearance, please do not feel embarrassed to ask questions, seek advice from your Midwife or GP.  

Scar massage

You can start to bring blood flow to the area of your scar and therefore oxygen, which helps with healing. The intention is to gently break down the scar with pressure and spread out the scar tissue which has formed.

  1. Gently apply moderate pressure — no more than three out of 10 in intensity — and massage along the scar in and up-and-down motion on your perineum, externally.
  2. Where you feel the most pressure is where you will need to work the most.
  3. If you find it difficult to touch your scar, start with a 'labial pull'. Gently pull the labia up and down and make circular motions to become comfortable with touching.
  4. Place your thumb at the vaginal entrance and make a 'U'-shape to gently stretch the muscles and scar.
  5. Make sure you perform this massage with clean hands. Get into a comfortable position and perform the massage every day for at least two minutes.
  6. You can use an oil such as 100% rose hip oil, almond oil or extra virgin olive oil.