Episiotomies, or incisions in the perineum made to facilitate delivery, used to be standard procedure in most deliveries. Even today, the episiotomy is the most frequently performed obstetric surgery in America. It is estimated that between 50 and 90 percent of all deliveries are done with episiotomy, though the rate is declining as medical professionals conduct more research and re-evaluate the procedure’s necessity. The rate is also lower for births attended by midwives than those attended by obstetricians.

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episiotomy, muscles, painful