Easing discomfort

To ease discomfort while you're recovering:

• Sit on a pillow or padded ring.
• Cool the wound with an ice pack, or place a chilled witch hazel pad between a menstrual pad and the injured area.
• Use a squirt bottle to put warm water on the injured area as you urinate.
• Sit in a warm bath deep enough to cover just your buttocks and hips for five minutes. This is sometimes called a sitz bath. Some people find cool water more soothing than warm water.
• Take a pain reliever that you can buy without a prescription. If that's not enough to ease the pain, ask a member of your health care team about getting a numbing spray or cream to use on the injured area.
• A stool softener or laxative to prevent constipation may ease pressure and pain in the injured area. But talk to a member of your health care team before you start taking this medicine.
• Wait to have sex until after your tear is fully healed.
• Don't use a tampon or menstrual cup until after the tear has healed.