QuestionThanks for your reply. I just wanted to let you know that I did not have any tears that were serious enough to even need stitches, nor did I have an episotomy. I was wondering if I could still have, what you called, a fistula, considering the fact that I had a good delivery with no stitches or anything! Thank you!------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am 23 and have one little girl who is almost ten months. I am pregnant again, just did a pregnancy test yesterday. My question is related to the fact that after I had my little girl, I have many instances when from my vagina comes a sound/feeling exactly as if I were passing gas. Or burping or something, but it comes from my vagina. It feels like it's just really open or something. And many times during sexual intercourse, it happens also. Do you know why and what or if I can do anything about it? Thanks
Answer -
If you had an fourth degree tear of an episiotomy that extended to the rectum in your last delivery, you may have developed a tiny fistula between the vagina and the rectum. If so, you may sometimes feel gas coming out of the vagina, giving you the sounds you describe. Sometimes some women have actual feces coming out of the vagina. YOu should mention this to your obstetrician and have it checked out. Of course, at this time, nothing will be done, but if you do have a fistula, it should be repaired at your next delivery.
AnswerSometimes, during a vaginal delivery, you can miss a defect in the posterior wall of the vagina that may have extended to the rectal mucosa. This is the way fistulas can form. YOur doctor can check this out with a careful speculum and vaginal exam, but you may need imaging studies by the radiologist to comepletely rule out a fistula. Most of the time, a fistula forms when an episiotomy does not heal well, but it can form spontaneously and be missed.
