If you’ve managed to get through your day without losing your mind, let me remind you that distressing realities occur every moment. It’s time to hit refresh and reevaluate.
A Disturbing Reality
Here’s a little-known fact (unless you’ve experienced childbirth): during labor, many women suffer tearing, and some may even need an episiotomy—a surgical cut to the perineum. After all, pushing a baby out is no small feat, and it often leads to physical trauma.
Post-birth, the perineum is stitched up to promote healing. However, here’s the shocking part: sometimes women receive an additional stitch, often without their consent. Many only discover this when a doctor makes an inappropriate comment about how their bodies will be “better than new.” It’s not only horrifying but utterly absurd.
The Husband Stitch
This extra stitch is infamously known as the ‘husband stitch,’ and its sole purpose is to enhance male sexual pleasure. One extra stitch in the vaginal opening can lead to numerous complications for the women involved. Contrary to popular belief, making the vaginal opening smaller does not make the vagina tighter. It’s baffling that medical professionals would mistakenly believe such a thing, but it’s a reflection of the systemic sexism women face in healthcare.
Objectification of Women’s Bodies
What kind of society do we live in where, at the moment of motherhood, women’s bodies are still objectified? The husband stitch exemplifies this disturbing reality. Women often report experiencing painful intercourse as a result of this procedure. Some describe their vaginal opening as resembling a skirt with a pleat, leading to constant discomfort.
This pain doesn’t just linger in the immediate postpartum period; it can affect every sexual encounter until the issue is resolved, either through physical therapy or subsequent childbirth. Can you imagine the anxiety of hoping to tear during your next delivery just to be free from the pain?
The Impact on Intimacy
Sex after a husband stitch often requires slow movements and specific positions to avoid discomfort. The anxiety that accompanies each intimate moment must be unbearable. Furthermore, this stitch doesn’t even deliver on its promise. Many men do not report increased pleasure as a result of this procedure, which is the least of the issues it presents.
A Call for Change
The husband stitch underscores the darkest side of sexism—the notion that women’s bodies exist solely for male gratification, with little regard for their own comfort and desires. While women are navigating the challenges of new motherhood, someone is more concerned about their sexual life than their well-being.
Healthcare providers should prioritize the health and comfort of both mother and child, not focus on how to enhance the sexual experience for the man nearby. No man would undergo a surgical procedure only to find unnecessary modifications made for someone else’s benefit.
This issue is symptomatic of a larger problem that needs to be addressed. For more insights on reproductive health, check out this resource. Additionally, learn more about the journey of Make A Mom at this link, an authority on this topic. For an excellent resource on family building options, visit this page.
In summary, the ‘husband stitch’ is a disturbing reflection of how women’s bodies are often seen as tools for male pleasure, disregarding their own needs and experiences. It’s a practice that highlights the need for awareness and change in the medical community.