Perianal Complications in Puerperium and Associated Risk Factors

Abstract Introduction Puerperium is defined as the period of about 6 weeks after childbirth during which the mother's reproductive organs return to their original nonpregnant condition. Perianal problems, including constipation, hemorrhoids, and fissure, are among the most common digestive complications among women in puerperium, observed in about 30 to 50 percent of women. Considering this great prevalence and the paucity of similar research in this aspect in an Indian population, the present study was done to assess the prevalence of perianal problems seen in puerperium and the risk factors associated with it. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study done over the span of 3 years on 902 puerperal women. A self-structured questionnaire covered detailed history and per-rectal and proctoscopy examination. Patients were followed up telephonically for regression of perianal problems post management. Results The total prevalence of all the perianal problems in puerperium encountered in the present study, out of 902 subjects, was 36.3% (327 subjects). The perianal problems encountered were fissure in 185 patients (20.5%) followed by hemorrhoids in 110 patients (12.2%), perianal episiotomy infections in 25 patients (2.8%), and perineal tears in 7 patients (0.8%). On comparative analysis, positive family history, macrosomia, past history of perianal diseases, and second stage of labour > 50 minutes showed a higher prevalence in the perianal disease group as compared with the healthy group. Out of these, positive family history of perianal diseases (p = 0.015) and past history of perianal diseases (p = 0.016) were statistically significant. The percentage of multipara with hemorrhoids was more when compared to primipara (p = 0.01), patients who had a past history of any perianal disease have a higher chance of hemorrhoids during puerperium (p = 0.00). Patients with constipation in pregnancy have higher chance of hemorrhoids in pregnancy (p = 0.00). Patients who had a past history of any perianal disease had higher chance of fissure during puerperium (p = 0.00). A total of 27.74% of the study subjects with macrosomic babies had fissure in their puerperal period which on comparison with patients with non macrosomic babies was only 19.22%, which was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Conclusion Constipation, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures are the most common perianal problems in postpartum period causing significant reduction in the quality of life of those afflicted with them.