3rd-degree vaginal tears

Third-degree tears go into the muscle that surrounds the anus, called the anal sphincter. These tears sometimes need to be repaired in an operating room rather than in the delivery room. They typically take about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. If you have a third-degree tear, you may need to take antibiotic medicine to prevent an infection.

After a third-degree vaginal tear is repaired, some problems that can happen include infection, separation of the repaired tear, leaking stool — also called fecal incontinence — and leaking urine — also called urinary incontinence. If you notice any of these problems, contact a member of your health care team.