While episiotomy is a common operation during delivery little is known of its benefits compared with spontaneous tears. This study was designed to evaluate and compare episiotomies and spontaneous tears. The sample comprised 205 primiparas, 157 with episiotomies and 48 with spontaneous tears. Women with episiotomies expressed more discomfort, perineal complications were more pronounced and prolonged, and fewer were able to participate in the post‐partum exercises. Furthermore, delayed healing was recorded for the episiotomy group and more analgesia was used post‐partum by women with episiotomies.
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Röckner et al. (1988) studied this question.