LOL on the category suggestion....Perineal tears are tears when giving birth. As far as tearing goes, there are different levels. The lower the number, the less serious the tear. I found this description at www.babycenter.com: Tears are more common in women having their first vaginal birth and range from small nicks and abrasions to deep lacerations affecting several pelvic floor muscles. It's possible to tear even if you have an episiotomy. In fact, an episiotomy may raise your risk of getting more severe tears.The most superficial tears involve the skin of the perineum and the tissue around the opening of the vagina or the outermost layer of the vagina itself, but no muscles. These tears, called first-degree lacerations, are often so small that few or no stitches are required. They usually heal quickly and cause little or no discomfort.Second-degree lacerations go deeper, into the muscles underneath. These tears need to be stitched closed, layer by layer. They'll cause you some discomfort and usually take a few weeks to heal. The stitches dissolve on their own during the healing period.At least 4 percent of women who deliver vaginally end up with a more serious tear in their perineum. Sometimes this happens when an episiotomy is done and the tissue then tears farther on its own. These severe tears are called third- or fourth-degree lacerations.A third-degree laceration is a tear in the vaginal tissue, perineal skin, and perineal muscles that extends into the anal sphincter (the muscle that surrounds your anus). A fourth-degree tear goes through the anal sphincter and the tissue underneath it.It's also possible to tear in other places. Some women tear at the top of the vagina near the urethra. (This is known as a periurethral laceration.) These tears are often quite small, and if you get one, you'll probably need only a few stitches or none at all.Upper vaginal tears don't involve muscle, so they usually heal more quickly and are less painful than perineal tears. The main complaint: A burning feeling when you pee.Less commonly, a woman may tear her cervix or labia (the folds of skin just outside the vagina) or tear deeply into the tissue of her vagina (known as a sulcus tear).Check out this link to see the rest of the discussion http://www.babycenter.com/0_perineal-tears_1451354.bc
