Something else? Ask Aunt Vadge – bottom left of your screen!
Hi Aunt Vadge,
I have a tear on my inner labia caused by sexual intercourse. It’s about an inch long that I can see, and it looks deep. I didn’t even realise it had happened until I went to the bathroom the next morning, when it bled quite a bit while I was weeing, but it hasn’t bled since. It isn’t very painful except when I wee. I went straight to the pharmacy for medicated wipes with witch hazel, and the pharmacist told me to use an antifungal cream on it. Should I see a doctor, or will this heal on its own? If it’s deep enough, will I need stitches? I can see red inside the tear that isn’t blood.
Yours,
Cut, age 35, Savannah, Georgia, USA
Dear Cut,
Thanks for your email. The good news is that a cut like this will very likely heal beautifully on its own. Mucous membranes are fast healers – think how quickly the inside of your mouth mends after you accidentally bite your cheek. Your vulva is much the same.
That said, if any part of you thinks it’s deep enough to need stitches, it’s worth being looked at rather than guessing. A deep tear is a reasonable thing to have checked.
When to get it seen
Book in with a doctor or a sexual health clinic if any of these apply:
- You think it may need stitches, or the edges are gaping
- It starts bleeding again, weeps, or the pain increases
- You can still see an open fissure in a week
- You notice any signs of infection – spreading redness, heat, pus or fever
They’ll take one look and tell you quickly whether it’s a bigger deal than it feels. Checking a cut is a doctor’s job, not something we do here – but it’s a five-minute reassurance.
Helping it heal
Be gentle and don’t irritate it with anything. Wash with warm water only – no soap or bubbles near the tear – and skip the antifungal cream, since this is a wound rather than a yeast infection. A moisturising, vulva-friendly cuts cream can keep the skin supple while it mends. Our guide on how to treat a simple vaginal or vulvar tear walks through the rest.
For now, no sex, no scratching, no tight clothes, nothing that disturbs the area. Think of healing as hands-free stitching: your body knits the tissue together, and every time it gets pulled apart it has to start over.
The bit that’s worth a thought
A cut that big, from sex, that you didn’t feel happen, is worth a little curiosity – mostly for your own peace of mind. Fingernails (anyone’s) are common culprits, and a bit more lubrication and going slower can prevent a repeat. You’ll know your own situation best.
Write again anytime.
Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge
This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. A deep tear, or one that won’t heal, should be assessed in person.
