Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsHistoryHealth Risks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
History
Health Risks
The husband stitch is a medically unnecessary practice in which an extra suture is added to an episiotomy orperinealtear after childbirth. The extra stitch is added to “tighten” the vagina to improve the male partner’s sexual satisfaction.The husband stitch is sometimes also called the “daddy stitch,” “husband’s knot,” or “vaginal tuck.”
There is no scientific evidence that the husband stitch enhances the sexual pleasure of either partner. There is anecdotal evidence, however, that it can cause harm, including vaginal pain during sex. There have even been rare accounts of females who have undergone the procedure without their consent.
Kemal Yildirim / Getty Images
The Meaning of “Husband Stitch”
“Husband stitch” describes the medically unnecessary practice of adding an extra stitch to tighten thevaginawhile repairing a vaginal tear or anepisiotomyafter childbirth. It is called a husband stitch because it’s done solely for the purpose of increasing male pleasure during intercourse.
The husband stitch is performed based on a misconception that the extra stitch can enhance sexual pleasure for the male partner. Some cultures also use it to make the vagina “prettier,” such as in Cambodia where the procedure is commonly performed.
Even though the husband stitch is not an accepted medical practice, some people still report receiving it, sometimes without consent.
The husband stitch is not the same thing asvaginoplasty, an elective procedure sometimes used to reduce vaginal laxity in people who have undergone childbirth.
The term “husband stitch” can be traced back to 1885 when a Texas physician named George Cupples reported performing the procedure at the request of a female patient after childbirth.The term has since been widely used in popular culture but is considered neither a valid nor accepted medical practice.
Since the husband stitch is considered medically unnecessary, there is no research into its use. Therefore, it is unclear how often it has been used in the past or how many providers still do it today. The husband stitch was likely more common during the 20th century when episiotomies were routine.
To date, there is no evidence supporting claims that a husband stitch can enhance sexual pleasure for either partner. Even with vaginoplasty, studies have shown that increased sexual satisfaction in males was associated more with improved body image of the female partner rather than increased tactile pressure from a “tighter” vagina.
What Is an Episiotomy?
Episiotomies are no longer routine during childbirth. The move away from episiotomy procedures started back in the 1990s when studies showed that they posed more harm than good in uncomplicated births.
By 2006, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) updated its guidelines, stating that while the procedure may be beneficial in certain circumstances, there are few in which the procedure is essential.As a result, the rate of episiotomies in the United States dropped from 33% in 2000 to around 5% in 2023.
Some of the reasons why an episiotomy may still be medically indicated include:
How long does it take for vaginal stitches to heal?It usually takes between seven and 10 days to recover from an episiotomy or vaginal tear.Providers typically use dissolvable stitches that do not have to be removed.
How long does it take for vaginal stitches to heal?
It usually takes between seven and 10 days to recover from an episiotomy or vaginal tear.Providers typically use dissolvable stitches that do not have to be removed.
Health Risks of the Husband Stitch
With that said, the possible risks of a husband stitch can be assumed to mirror those of episiotomy, including:
A 2024 study published in theArchives of Gynecology and Obstetricsreported that people who undergo episiotomy are also slower to return to sexual activity than those who undergo regular vaginal birth.
A similar study published in theArchives of Gynecology and Obstetricsin 2023 concluded that episiotomy was associated with a higher frequency of dyspareunia than either vaginal birth orcesarean section.
Complications
Although there are no studies into the possible complications and side effects of the husband stitch, there is anecdotal evidence that it can lead to long-term harm such as pain during intercourse or even while sitting and walking.
Can the Husband Stitch Be Reversed?Since the husband stitch is not a medically accepted practice, there is no research into how and if it can be reversed. Talk to a healthcare provider if you believe you have received a husband stitch and/or you are experiencing pain after an episiotomy or vaginal tear.
Can the Husband Stitch Be Reversed?
Since the husband stitch is not a medically accepted practice, there is no research into how and if it can be reversed. Talk to a healthcare provider if you believe you have received a husband stitch and/or you are experiencing pain after an episiotomy or vaginal tear.
Emotional Consequences
While many experts decry the husband stitch for medical reasons, other groups like the National Organization of Women (NOW) say that it perpetuates the harmful misconception that a woman is somehow “damaged” after pregnancy and that these perceptions can bleed over to how a woman feels about herself.
Adding to the concerns are reports that the husband stitch has been performed without the woman’s consent in the United States. Published news reports in 2018 have highlighted cases in which injured parties were not only hurt physically but left feeling objectified, emotionally violated, betrayed, embarrassed, and ashamed.
Is the Husband Stitch Illegal?Any surgical procedure performed without a person’sinformed consentcan be grounds for amedical malpracticesuit. This includes the husband stitch. Pursuing a case can be difficult given that the injured party will need to show that the stitch was not part of an episiotomy repair. Speak with an attorney specializing in health law.
Is the Husband Stitch Illegal?
Any surgical procedure performed without a person’sinformed consentcan be grounds for amedical malpracticesuit. This includes the husband stitch. Pursuing a case can be difficult given that the injured party will need to show that the stitch was not part of an episiotomy repair. Speak with an attorney specializing in health law.
Summary
The husband stitch is an unendorsed procedure involving the placement of an extra stitch to tighten the vagina after an episiotomy. Doing so is thought to improve sexual pleasure, mainly for the male partner. There is no evidence to support this claim.
The husband stitch can lead to complications like vaginal pain and pain during sex, especially if the vaginal opening is excessively reduced.
13 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.
National Organization of Women.The objectification of women’s body in healthcare: The husband stitch.
Schantz C, Sim KL, Ly EM, et al.Reasons for routine episiotomy: a mixed-methods study in a large maternity hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Reproduc Health Matters. 2015;23(45):68–77. doi:10.1016/j.rhm.2015.06.012
University of California San Francisco.Vaginoplasty procedures, complications and aftercare.
Texas State Medical Association.Transactions of the Texas State Medical Association.
Eftekhar T, Hajibabaei M, Veisi F, Ghanbari Z, Montazeri A.Body image, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction among couples before and after gynecologic cosmetic surgery.J Family Reprod Health.2021;15(4):252–257. doi:10.18502/jfrh.v15i4.7892
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What is an episiotomy?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Practice bulletin no. 165: Prevention and management of obstetric lacerations at vaginal delivery.Obstetrics Gynecol. 2016;128(1):e1. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001523
Leapfrog Hospital Survey.State of maternity care in the U.S.: the Leapfrog Group 2023 report on trends in c-sections, early elective deliveries, and episiotomies.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Recovering from delivery (postpartum recovery).
Fernadez-Fernandez MJ, de Medina-Moragas AJ.Comparative study of postpartum sexual function: second-degree tears versus episiotomy outcomes.Arch Gynecol Obstet.2024;309(6):2761–2769. doi:10.1007/-024-07494-2
Dominoni M, Gritti A, Bergante C, et al.Genital perception and vulvar appearance after childbirth: a cohort analysis of genital body image and sexuality.Arch Gynecol Obstet.2023;307(3):813–819. doi:10.1007/s00404-022-06826-4
Vice.The ‘husband stitch’ leaves women in pain and without answers.
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