CAN VAGINAL DELIVERY LEAD TO INCONTINENCE?
As part of the extraordinary forces on a woman’s body during delivery of the baby, the pelvic tissues may be subjected to damage. As the head comes out, the forces can actually tear the ligaments that anchor the pelvic supporting muscles to the pelvic bones. The muscles themselves may also be damaged. (see fig 4-1) Sometimes the muscle near the outside of the vagina is intentionally cut by the doctor to help speed up the delivery. We now know this cut, called an episiotomy, increases the risk of anal incontinence. For some women these damaged muscles and ligaments remain weak and do not entirely heal. As time goes on and the normal changes of aging and weakening of the tissues takes place, incontinence may result. At present, only sophisticated and expensive tests like MRI or nerve conduction studies can tell if these muscles and nerves have returned to normal. Unfortunately, there is no convenient, easy way at this point for you or your doctor to know if these muscles are weakened and
