Episiotomy Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Some short-term complications may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Difficulty controlling your bowels

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Severe scar tissue in the area

• Prior problems with chronic pain in the vulva

• Short perineum

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills, swelling, redness, pain that does not get better, or foul-smelling discharge or bleeding from the episiotomy site
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Continuing problems with loss of urinary or bowel control

In case of emergency, call 911.