If you’ve somehow managed to go through your day unbothered, let me remind you that unsettling things are happening all around us, and sometimes we need a fresh start. Here’s a little-known fact (especially for those who haven’t gone through childbirth): during labor, many women experience tearing, or they may have an episiotomy, a surgical cut made to the perineum. After all, pushing something the size of a watermelon through an opening the size of a strawberry can lead to some significant consequences.
After childbirth, the perineum is stitched up to facilitate healing. However, sometimes women receive an extra stitch, often without their consent. Many only discover this when a doctor makes an inappropriate comment about how their anatomy will be even better than before. This practice, known as the husband stitch, is alarming, to say the least. Its sole purpose appears to be enhancing male sexual pleasure, and it can result in a range of complications for the women affected.
Narrowing the vaginal opening does not necessarily create a tighter vagina, a misconception that reflects the ongoing discrimination women face in the medical field. This begs the question: what kind of society do we live in where women’s bodies are treated as objects for male enjoyment, even immediately after childbirth? It’s infuriating.
Women who have undergone the husband stitch frequently report painful intercourse. They often describe their experience as akin to a skirt with a pleat, where the outer tissue of the vaginal opening is sewn into this pleat, causing ongoing discomfort. This pain can last well beyond the initial recovery period after childbirth, affecting their intimate lives until the stitch is removed, either through physical therapy or by giving birth again and tearing naturally.
Imagine having to anticipate pain every time you engage in intimacy! Furthermore, the husband stitch often fails to deliver the promised results. Contrary to what some may believe, men do not experience increased pleasure from this procedure; the idea itself is fundamentally flawed.
The husband stitch epitomizes the darkest aspects of sexism. It suggests that women’s bodies exist solely for the pleasure of men, disregarding their comfort and desires. While new mothers are trying to navigate breastfeeding and their own recovery, the focus should not be on how to enhance their sexual appeal for their partners. A doctor’s primary concern after delivery should be the health and comfort of the mother and her baby, not how to “improve” her anatomy for a man.
No one would expect a man undergoing a vasectomy to emerge with additional enhancements, so why should women face such indignities? They shouldn’t. If you’re interested in learning more about related topics, check out this article from one of our other blogs. Also, for in-depth insights into artificial insemination, visit this excellent resource.
In summary, the husband stitch is an alarming practice that highlights the ongoing issues of sexism in healthcare. It emphasizes the need for greater awareness and advocacy for women’s rights and bodily autonomy, especially during the vulnerable periods of childbirth and recovery.