American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
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Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. · Dec 2003
Comparative StudyFecal and urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery with anal sphincter disruption in an obstetrics unit in the United States.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of urinary and bowel incontinence in relation to anal sphincter laceration in primiparous women and to identify factors that are associated with anal sphincter laceration in a unit that uses primarily midline episiotomy. ⋯ Women with third- and fourth-degree lacerations were more likely to have bowel incontinence than women without anal sphincter lacerations. Fourth-degree lacerations appear to affect anal continence greater than third-degree lacerations.