Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
When to Seek Care
This article covers the most common causes of vaginal cuts, how they are treated, and when you should see your healthcare provider.
What Are the Symptoms of Vaginal Cuts?
Cuts or splits to the external genitalia are sometimes visible to the naked eye. But smaller injuries, especially those to the internal vaginal tissue, may not be obvious. Symptoms of vaginal cuts may include:
If you think you have a vaginal cut, do aself-examand keep an eye on the area to see if the injury gets worse or may be infected.
What Are the Causes of Vaginal Cuts?
Most vaginal cuts happen as a result of everyday activities, like having sexual intercourse, shaving, or waxing. There are other ways you can develop a cut on the vagina or vulva, too, such as having a chronic skin condition or giving birth.
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Sexual Activity
Shaving and Waxing Pubic Hair
Shaving and waxing pubic hair are other common causes of vaginal cuts. In fact, a 2017 study found that 25.6% of all people who groomed their pubic hair reported injuries. The most common injury was vaginal cuts in women. A small percentage of people in the study needed antibiotics or surgery to treat them.
Childbirth
About 80% of women develop a perineal tear during childbirth.A perineal tear is a tear in the muscles or skin of theperineum, which is the area between the vagina and anus. A perineal tear may also affect the vagina oranal sphincter—the ring of muscle that forms the opening of the anus.
Perineal tears range in severity from first- to fourth-degree tears:
People giving birth for the first time are more likely to experience a perineal tear compared to women who have previously had a vaginal delivery before.
Skin Conditions
If you have any of the following skin conditions, you may be more likely to experience vaginal cuts:
Other Causes
Some other causes of vaginal tears include:
How Are Vaginal Cuts Diagnosed?
To diagnose a vaginal cut, your healthcare provider will need to perform a physical examination and take your medical history. This helps them understand your symptoms, as well as any other medical conditions or other factors that could be the reason for the injury. The healthcare provider will also ask if the symptoms are new or recurring to find out if you have a history of vaginal cuts.
When vaginal cuts are small, the healthcare provider may need to use a surgical instrument with a bright light (a colposcope) to magnify the injured area during the examination.
Diagnostic Tests
Usually, tests aren’t needed to diagnose and treat vaginal cuts when the history is known (e.g., happened after shaving) and the cuts appear minor andinfection-free.
Sometimes, though, tests are helpful to check for any conditions that contributed to the injury. These tests could include:
How Are Vaginal Cuts Treated?
More severe genital injuries, such as a perineal tear, will likely require medical treatment in addition to self-care.
And, if the cut on your vagina is related to a chronic skin condition, the condition will need to be managed to reduce the risk of more vaginal cuts in the future.
Regardless of the cause, you will need to take extra steps to prevent infection while avoiding any products that irritate the affected genital area, such as scented feminine hygiene products and soaps.
If bleeding or pain does not clear up within a few days after the injury occurs, even if the injury appears minor, call your healthcare provider.
Self-Treatment
Most minor vaginal cuts are treatable at home. Self-care for simple cuts focuses on keeping the injury clean and dry, avoiding products that could irritate the area, and avoiding activity that could make your injury worse.
Self-care tips include:
In many instances, so long as you are practicing proper genital hygiene, the cut on your vagina will heal on its own, provided there are no signs or symptoms of infection.
Do You Really Need to Use a ‘Feminine Wash?’
Medical Treatment
In some cases, your provider may recommend treatments such as:
If a vaginal cut results in a severe infection, it could lead to an abscess that might need to be drained.
Large or severe cutsmay need stitches. Deep tears and cuts that reoccur or leave scars may need to be repaired surgically.
Perineal Tears
First- and second-degree tears can typically be sutured (stitched) in the delivery room usinglocal anesthesia, whereas more severe tears may need to repaired withgeneral anesthesiain an operating room.
Once the perineal tear is sutured, your healthcare provider will advise you on how to keep your perineal area clean to prevent infection.
How Are Vaginal Cuts Prevented?
Prevention measures for recurrence of vaginal cuts depend on several factors:
Sexual activity should not normally be painful and it should not result in injuries or bleeding. Be sure to learn how to communicate with your partner if sex is causing any type of discomfort, even if it’s awkward to talk about.
Shaving
The best way to prevent vaginal cuts from shaving or waxing is to avoid grooming your pubic hair. However, if you decide to shave or wax, here are some tips to avoid vaginal cuts:
Tampons
Be gentle when pulling out tampons and make sure that they have been left in long enough to absorb moisture (usually a couple of hours) and are not dry when removing them. Never yank a tampon out suddenly; rather, remove it slowly.
A common cause of damage to the vaginal tissue is removing a tampon that has not been adequately moistened, then immediately putting another one in. After you remove a dry tampon, consider using a pad or period underwear instead.
Vaginal Delivery
With your healthcare provider’s approval, it is recommended to exercise regularly throughout your pregnancy. Not only does exercise prevent constipation, but it also strengthens your abdominal muscles to aid with pushing during delivery.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Most vaginal cuts should heal on their own in a few days. However, some may need medical care. For example, a tear in the V-shaped fold of skin at the bottom of the entrance to the vagina (posterior fourchette fissure) can develop into a deeper tear. It requires prompt medical attention.
If you have a vaginal injury, consult your healthcare provider if you experience:
Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have large, deep, or numerous vaginal cuts, or if you think you have an infection. Signs of an infection may include foul-smelling discharge, fever, and pain that doesn’t improve with medication.
Anyone who has beensexually assaulted, raped, or sexually abused should seek emergency medical attention immediately. Any time an unexplained vaginal tear or cut is found in a child or infant, adult caregivers should consult with a healthcare provider right away.
Summary
Skin in the genital region is delicate, sensitive, and can be prone to injuries. In some cases, underlying medical conditions may make your skin even more fragile. If you have a cut in the vagina or injury to your vaginal tissue, understanding what caused it is important so that you can prevent it from happening again.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Daniilidis A, Panteleris N, Symeonidis N.Rectovaginal tear after sexual intercourse in a young woman-a case report.Hippokratia. 2016 Dec;20(4):320.Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al.Prevalence of pubic hair grooming-related injuries and identification of high-risk individuals in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(11):1114-1121. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2815Jansson M, Franzén K, Hiyoshi A, et al.Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women - the prospective POPRACT-cohort study.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 Dec;20(1):749. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03447-0Rodaki E, Diamanti A, Sarantaki A, Lykeridou A.The effects of perineal tears during childbirth on women’s sex life.Maedica (Bucur). 2022 Jun;17(2):297-305. doi:10.26574/maedica.2022.17.2.297Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Managing common vulvar skin conditions.Center for Young Women’s Health.Question about a vaginal cut.UChicago Medicine.Birth injuries (perineal or vaginal tears).Manuela Ferreira-Couto C, do Nascimento Fernandes-Carneiro M.Trauma perineal prevention: An integrative literature review. Enfermería Global. 2017 Jul;16(3):1-12. doi:10.6018/eglobal.16.3.252131Berlit C, Sütterlin M, Yen K, et al.Female genital injury—which findings have to be considered physiological using colposcopy with and without toluidine blue dye?.Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2021 Oct;17(1):634-642. doi:10.1007/s12024-021-00417-6
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Daniilidis A, Panteleris N, Symeonidis N.Rectovaginal tear after sexual intercourse in a young woman-a case report.Hippokratia. 2016 Dec;20(4):320.Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al.Prevalence of pubic hair grooming-related injuries and identification of high-risk individuals in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(11):1114-1121. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2815Jansson M, Franzén K, Hiyoshi A, et al.Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women - the prospective POPRACT-cohort study.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 Dec;20(1):749. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03447-0Rodaki E, Diamanti A, Sarantaki A, Lykeridou A.The effects of perineal tears during childbirth on women’s sex life.Maedica (Bucur). 2022 Jun;17(2):297-305. doi:10.26574/maedica.2022.17.2.297Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Managing common vulvar skin conditions.Center for Young Women’s Health.Question about a vaginal cut.UChicago Medicine.Birth injuries (perineal or vaginal tears).Manuela Ferreira-Couto C, do Nascimento Fernandes-Carneiro M.Trauma perineal prevention: An integrative literature review. Enfermería Global. 2017 Jul;16(3):1-12. doi:10.6018/eglobal.16.3.252131Berlit C, Sütterlin M, Yen K, et al.Female genital injury—which findings have to be considered physiological using colposcopy with and without toluidine blue dye?.Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2021 Oct;17(1):634-642. doi:10.1007/s12024-021-00417-6
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Daniilidis A, Panteleris N, Symeonidis N.Rectovaginal tear after sexual intercourse in a young woman-a case report.Hippokratia. 2016 Dec;20(4):320.Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al.Prevalence of pubic hair grooming-related injuries and identification of high-risk individuals in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(11):1114-1121. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2815Jansson M, Franzén K, Hiyoshi A, et al.Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women - the prospective POPRACT-cohort study.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 Dec;20(1):749. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03447-0Rodaki E, Diamanti A, Sarantaki A, Lykeridou A.The effects of perineal tears during childbirth on women’s sex life.Maedica (Bucur). 2022 Jun;17(2):297-305. doi:10.26574/maedica.2022.17.2.297Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Managing common vulvar skin conditions.Center for Young Women’s Health.Question about a vaginal cut.UChicago Medicine.Birth injuries (perineal or vaginal tears).Manuela Ferreira-Couto C, do Nascimento Fernandes-Carneiro M.Trauma perineal prevention: An integrative literature review. Enfermería Global. 2017 Jul;16(3):1-12. doi:10.6018/eglobal.16.3.252131Berlit C, Sütterlin M, Yen K, et al.Female genital injury—which findings have to be considered physiological using colposcopy with and without toluidine blue dye?.Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2021 Oct;17(1):634-642. doi:10.1007/s12024-021-00417-6
Daniilidis A, Panteleris N, Symeonidis N.Rectovaginal tear after sexual intercourse in a young woman-a case report.Hippokratia. 2016 Dec;20(4):320.
Truesdale MD, Osterberg EC, Gaither TW, et al.Prevalence of pubic hair grooming-related injuries and identification of high-risk individuals in the United States.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(11):1114-1121. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2815
Jansson M, Franzén K, Hiyoshi A, et al.Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women - the prospective POPRACT-cohort study.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2020 Dec;20(1):749. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03447-0
Rodaki E, Diamanti A, Sarantaki A, Lykeridou A.The effects of perineal tears during childbirth on women’s sex life.Maedica (Bucur). 2022 Jun;17(2):297-305. doi:10.26574/maedica.2022.17.2.297
Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Managing common vulvar skin conditions.
Center for Young Women’s Health.Question about a vaginal cut.
UChicago Medicine.Birth injuries (perineal or vaginal tears).
Manuela Ferreira-Couto C, do Nascimento Fernandes-Carneiro M.Trauma perineal prevention: An integrative literature review. Enfermería Global. 2017 Jul;16(3):1-12. doi:10.6018/eglobal.16.3.252131
Berlit C, Sütterlin M, Yen K, et al.Female genital injury—which findings have to be considered physiological using colposcopy with and without toluidine blue dye?.Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2021 Oct;17(1):634-642. doi:10.1007/s12024-021-00417-6
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