ABSTRACT
Perineal trauma is common, especially after the birth of a first child, and is responsible for considerable long-term maternal morbidity, such as complete perineal tear, relaxed perineum, genital prolapse, stress urinary incontinence and faecal incontinence. The perineum is the diamond-shaped area of pelvic outlet caudal to the pelvic diaphragm with boundaries formed by the inferior pubic rami anteriorly and by the sacrotuberous ligament posteriorly. It is further divided into the urogenital triangle anteriorly and the anal triangle posteriorly by a transverse line joining the anterior parts of the ischial tuberosities. The urogenital triangle has three superficial muscles: the bulbospongiosus, which encircles the vagina and inserts anteriorly into the corpus cavernosum clitoridis; the superficial transverse perineal muscle, which lies transversely; and the ischiocavernosus muscle, which lies laterally in the labia. Mode of delivery has a great impact on the rate of perineal trauma. Elective caesarean section prevents damage to perineum from labour-related events.
