I am often asked – What does a vaginal tear look like? A small vaginal or vulval tear usually looks like a thin red line, shallow crack or paper-cut-like split near the vaginal opening. It may appear pink, raw or slightly swollen and can produce a small amount of fresh blood. A deeper tear may look wider, gape at the edges or expose darker pink tissue beneath the skin.
Not every vaginal tear is visible. Tears inside the vaginal canal can cause pain or bleeding without producing an external cut. After childbirth, a perineal tear may extend from the vaginal opening towards the anus and may be repaired with dissolvable stitches.
The appearance alone cannot reliably show how deep a tear is. Heavy bleeding, severe pain, difficulty urinating, signs of infection or concerns about a tear after childbirth require medical assessment.
Quick answer: What does a vaginal tear look and feel like?
A minor vaginal tear may have the following features:
| What you may notice | Typical description |
|---|---|
| Colour | Bright red, pink or raw-looking |
| Shape | Thin line, shallow crack or paper-cut-like split |
| Location | Often at the bottom of the vaginal opening or on the labia |
| Bleeding | A spot or small smear of fresh blood |
| Sensation | Stinging, burning or sharp pain |
| Urination | Urine may sting when it touches the tear |
| Swelling | Mild, localised swelling or tenderness |
| Visibility | Internal vaginal tears may not be visible |
A minor tear should gradually become less painful and swollen. A wound that is deep, gaping, increasingly painful or producing pus or an unpleasant smell needs medical attention.
Doctor’s summary: A small tear often resembles a paper cut around the vaginal entrance. Childbirth tears may extend into the perineum and underlying muscles, while tears caused by friction or dryness are usually more superficial. You cannot accurately determine the depth of a tear simply by looking at it.
Is it really a vaginal tear?
The phrase “vaginal tear” is commonly used to describe several different injuries, but they do not all involve the vagina itself.
- The vagina is the internal muscular passage.
- The vulva is the external genital area, including the labia and vaginal opening.
- The perineum is the area of skin and muscle between the vaginal opening and anus.
- A fissure is a small, narrow split in the skin.
Many injuries described as vaginal tears are actually small vulval fissures around the vaginal entrance. The lower edge of the entrance, called the posterior fourchette, is particularly vulnerable to splitting during sex or when the tissue is dry or inflamed.
Childbirth tears can affect the perineum, vaginal wall, labia or several areas at the same time. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists confirms that birth-related tears can occur inside the vagina and elsewhere on the vulva as well as in the perineum.
What does a small vaginal tear look like?
A small vaginal tear usually appears as:
- A narrow red line
- A shallow split in the skin
- A small raw or grazed area
- A paper-cut-like crack
- A tiny spot of blood
- Slightly separated skin edges
- Localised redness or swelling
Fresh tears tend to be bright red or pink. If the skin has recently split, you might see a small smear of fresh blood on toilet tissue, underwear or after sex.
Small fissures can be difficult to see because they may sit within a natural skin fold. They can also cause more discomfort than their size suggests, particularly when urine, sweat or friction irritates the exposed tissue.
Suggested image placement: A non-explicit medical illustration showing a superficial vulval fissure at the lower edge of the vaginal opening. Label the vulva, vaginal entrance, perineum and location of a typical minor tear.
What does a deep vaginal tear look like?
A deeper tear may:
- Appear wider than a surface crack
- Have edges that pull or gape apart
- Expose darker red or pink tissue
- Bleed continuously or heavily
- Cause marked swelling or bruising
- Cause severe or persistent pain
Deep tears can extend beneath the visible skin into muscle. The visible length of a wound does not necessarily indicate its depth, and internal damage cannot always be seen in a mirror.
Do not attempt to probe a tear or pull its edges apart. A deep, gaping or heavily bleeding injury requires urgent medical assessment.
What does a vaginal tear feel like?
A minor tear can cause:
- Sharp pain similar to a paper cut
- Stinging or burning
- Pain when urine touches the skin
- Tenderness when wiping
- Discomfort while sitting or walking
- Pain during or after sex
- Light bleeding or spotting
Some people feel the tear before they can see it. A very small fissure may be almost invisible but cause pronounced stinging because the genital area contains many sensitive nerve endings.
Deeper injuries may cause throbbing pain, heavier bleeding, pressure, substantial swelling or difficulty passing urine.
What does a vaginal tear after sex look like?
A vaginal tear from sex often looks like a short, thin red split at the lower edge of the vaginal opening. There may be a small spot of fresh blood, localised swelling or a raw-looking patch.
These tears are commonly associated with:
- Insufficient lubrication
- Vaginal dryness
- Prolonged or vigorous penetration
- Tense pelvic-floor muscles
- Sex before a previous tear has healed
- Irritated or inflamed vulval skin
- Hormonal changes after childbirth or during menopause
A minor friction-related tear should improve once further friction is avoided. Recurrent tearing during sex is not something you simply have to tolerate. It may indicate dryness, infection, an inflammatory skin disorder or pelvic-floor dysfunction.
Seek medical advice if bleeding after sex happens repeatedly, even if you think a small tear is responsible. Bleeding after sex can have other causes involving the vagina or cervix.
What does a vaginal tear after childbirth look like?
A childbirth-related tear may begin at the vaginal opening and extend into the perineum towards the anus. Tears can also occur inside the vagina or affect the labia.
Immediately after birth, the area may look:
- Swollen
- Bruised
- Red or dark pink
- Grazed or split
- Bloodstained
- Tender and inflamed
Postpartum swelling and normal vaginal bleeding can make it difficult to identify the tear yourself. A midwife or doctor should examine the vagina, vulva and perineum after birth and explain whether stitches are required.
If a perineal tear has been repaired, you may see:
- A narrow stitched line below the vaginal opening
- Small loops or knots of dissolvable thread
- Pink or red tissue around the wound
- Mild swelling or bruising
- A small amount of spotting
- Slight itching or pulling as it heals
Many stitches are placed beneath the skin and may not be visible.
What do first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree tears look like?
Childbirth tears are classified according to the tissues they affect—not simply by how they look externally.
| Degree of tear | Tissue affected | Usual treatment |
| First degree | Skin and superficial tissue | May heal naturally or require stitches |
| Second degree | Skin and perineal muscle | Usually repaired with stitches |
| Third degree | Extends into the anal sphincter muscle | Surgical repair |
| Fourth degree | Extends through the anal sphincter into the rectal lining | Specialist surgical repair |
First-degree perineal tear
A first-degree tear affects the skin and superficial tissue. It may look like a shallow split, graze or small cut close to the vaginal opening.
Some first-degree tears heal without stitches if bleeding has stopped and the edges sit naturally together.
Second-degree perineal tear
A second-degree tear extends through the skin into the muscles of the perineum. It may look deeper or wider than a first-degree injury, but this cannot always be determined visually.
Second-degree tears usually require stitches to restore the muscle and close the skin. RCOG guidance explains that the skin generally heals within several weeks, although tenderness may continue during recovery.
Third-degree perineal tear
A third-degree tear extends into the anal sphincter, which is responsible for bowel control.
This is a serious injury requiring surgical repair. It cannot be diagnosed safely from an external photograph or self-examination.
Fourth-degree perineal tear
A fourth-degree tear passes through the anal sphincter and reaches the lining of the anus or rectum.
Third- and fourth-degree tears are collectively known as obstetric anal sphincter injuries. They require specialist repair, follow-up and advice about pelvic-floor recovery and bowel function.
Suggested image placement: A clear, non-graphic anatomical infographic comparing first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree perineal tears.
Vaginal tear versus episiotomy
A perineal tear happens naturally as the vaginal opening and surrounding tissue stretch during childbirth.
An episiotomy is a deliberate surgical cut made in the perineum by a midwife or doctor when it is clinically necessary to assist delivery. It is normally repaired with stitches after birth.
Both can cause postpartum soreness and require similar wound care, but an episiotomy is not a spontaneous tear.
What does a healing vaginal tear look like?
A healing tear should gradually become less red, swollen and painful. Its appearance changes as new tissue forms and the skin edges close.
First few days
The area may be:
- Bright red or pink
- Swollen
- Bruised
- Tender
- Slightly bloodstained
- Painful when sitting, walking or urinating
During the first few weeks
As healing progresses:
- Redness and swelling should reduce
- The skin edges should remain together
- Bleeding from the wound should stop
- Pain should become less intense
- The wound may itch or feel tight
- Dissolvable stitches may feel slightly irritating
Mild itching or pulling can occur as tissue heals. These sensations should not be accompanied by increasing pain, pus, fever or an offensive smell.
After healing
The healed area may initially appear pinker, darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. A thin scar line or slightly firm area may remain, but scars often soften and become less noticeable over time.
RCOG states that most childbirth tears heal within approximately six weeks without long-term problems. Deeper tears, infection or wound separation can extend recovery.
What does an infected vaginal tear look like?
An infected vaginal or perineal tear may become increasingly red, swollen and painful instead of gradually improving.
Warning signs include:
- Spreading redness
- Skin that feels hot or increasingly swollen
- Yellow, green or pus-like discharge
- An unpleasant or unusual smell
- Increasing tenderness or throbbing pain
- New bleeding from the wound
- Separation of the wound edges
- Fever, chills or feeling unwell
The NHS advises contacting a midwife or GP if postpartum stitches become more painful or there is smelly discharge or red, swollen skin around the tear.
Normal postpartum discharge changes in colour and consistency during recovery. However, an offensive smell accompanied by fever, worsening pain or visible wound changes requires prompt assessment.
Can vaginal stitches come apart?
It is uncommon for properly repaired stitches to come apart. However, infection or pressure from bleeding beneath the wound can occasionally cause wound breakdown, also called perineal wound dehiscence.
Possible signs include:
- The wound appears open
- New bleeding
- Increasing pain
- Pus-like discharge
- An unpleasant smell
- Visible loose or separated stitches
- Feeling generally unwell
Contact your maternity team, midwife or GP promptly if you think a stitched tear has opened. Do not attempt to close or treat the wound yourself.
How can you check for a vaginal tear?
If bleeding is minimal and the injury appears minor, you can gently examine the external area using clean hands, good lighting and a handheld mirror.
Look for:
- A narrow red split
- A raw or grazed area
- Localised swelling
- A small source of fresh bleeding
- Changes around existing stitches
Do not insert fingers, instruments or a camera into the vagina. Avoid repeatedly pulling the skin apart, as this may restart bleeding or disturb healing tissue.
A healthcare professional should examine you if:
- You cannot identify where the blood is coming from
- The tear appears deep, wide or gaping
- Pain is severe
- Bleeding continues
- You recently gave birth
- You think the wound is infected
- The same area repeatedly splits
- Symptoms are not improving
What else can look like a vaginal tear?
Not every painful crack, sore or bleeding area is caused by trauma.
Genital herpes
Genital herpes may produce blisters, painful ulcers or small splits in the skin. The lesions do not always appear as an obvious cluster of blisters.
New genital sores—particularly after sexual contact—should be assessed by a GP or sexual health clinic.
Thrush
Thrush can cause itching, soreness, inflammation and small fissures around the vaginal entrance. A thick white discharge may also occur, although symptoms vary.
Repeated symptoms should be properly diagnosed rather than continually self-treated.
Lichen sclerosus
Lichen sclerosus is an inflammatory skin condition that can make vulval skin pale, white, thin and prone to splitting.
Possible symptoms include:
- Persistent itching
- White or shiny patches
- Fragile skin
- Recurrent fissures
- Bruising or bleeding
- Tightening or scarring of the vulval skin
Suspected lichen sclerosus needs medical assessment and prescription treatment.
Eczema or contact dermatitis
Soap, fragranced washes, wipes, detergents, sanitary products and some lubricants can cause irritation. Inflamed skin can become dry, sore and vulnerable to cracking.
Vaginal dryness
Low oestrogen levels may make vaginal and vulval tissue thinner, less elastic and easier to injure. This can happen:
- During or after menopause
- While breastfeeding
- Following childbirth
- With certain medicines
- After some cancer treatments
Persistent dryness can often be treated, so discuss it with a healthcare professional.
What causes vaginal and vulval tears?
Common causes include:
- Vaginal childbirth
- Friction during sex
- Insufficient lubrication
- Vaginal dryness
- Scratching irritated skin
- Hair removal
- Inserting an object
- Infection or inflammation
- Vulval skin conditions
- Accidental trauma
Repeated tearing generally means an underlying contributing factor remains. Identifying and treating that factor is more effective than repeatedly allowing the skin to split and heal.
How are minor vaginal tears treated?
Small superficial tears often heal with gentle care and avoidance of further irritation.
You can usually:
- Wash gently with lukewarm water
- Pat the area dry rather than rubbing
- Wear loose, breathable underwear
- Avoid sex until the tear has healed
- Avoid tampons and vaginal insertion during healing
- Avoid scented soaps, wipes and deodorants
- Use a cold pack wrapped in cloth externally for short periods
- Use appropriate over-the-counter pain relief if normally safe for you
Do not place ice directly on the skin.
Avoid applying hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, essential oils, harsh antiseptics or unprescribed creams. These products can irritate delicate tissue and potentially delay healing.
If urine stings a postpartum tear, pouring lukewarm water over the external area while urinating may reduce discomfort.
How long does a vaginal tear take to heal?
Healing time depends on the location, depth and cause of the tear.
| Type of injury | Approximate recovery |
| Tiny superficial fissure | Often improves within a few days |
| Minor friction-related tear | Commonly heals within one to two weeks |
| First-degree childbirth tear | Usually heals over several weeks |
| Second-degree childbirth tear | Often requires several weeks of recovery |
| Third- or fourth-degree tear | Longer recovery with specialist follow-up |
These are general estimates rather than deadlines. Infection, repeated friction, hormonal dryness, poor wound healing or an underlying skin disorder can delay recovery.
Seek medical advice if a presumed minor tear:
- Is not clearly improving within several days
- Remains present after one to two weeks
- Reopens repeatedly
- Becomes increasingly painful
- Produces unusual discharge or odour
When can you have sex after a vaginal tear?
Avoid penetration until the wound has closed, bleeding has stopped and the area is no longer painful.
When you resume sex:
- Take things slowly
- Use generous lubrication
- Stop if you experience sharp pain
- Avoid continuing if bleeding occurs
- Choose positions that allow you to control depth and pressure
Pain should not be pushed through. Persistent pain may be related to scar sensitivity, dryness, infection or pelvic-floor muscle tension.
After childbirth, follow the advice provided by your maternity team. Some people are physically and emotionally ready sooner than others.
When should you contact a doctor?
Arrange an appointment with a GP, midwife, sexual health clinician or gynaecologist if:
- The tear is not healing
- The same area repeatedly splits
- Bleeding after sex occurs more than once
- Sex remains painful
- You have persistent vaginal or vulval dryness
- There are white patches or skin changes
- You notice blisters, sores or ulcers
- You have unusual discharge
- You are concerned about an infection
- Postpartum pain is worsening rather than improving
When is a vaginal tear an emergency?
Seek urgent medical help for:
- Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe or rapidly worsening pain
- A deep or gaping wound
- Dizziness, weakness, collapse or fainting
- Rapidly increasing swelling
- Difficulty passing urine
- Fever, chills or feeling seriously unwell
- Pus or offensive-smelling discharge
- A postpartum wound that has opened
- Loss of bowel control
- Difficulty controlling wind
- Stool passing through the vagina
- Significant accidental trauma
- A possible retained object
In the UK, contact your maternity unit, midwife, GP or NHS 111. Call 999 or attend A&E for uncontrolled bleeding, collapse or another serious emergency.
If an injury resulted from sexual assault, you can contact a sexual assault referral centre for confidential medical care and emotional support. You can receive help whether or not you report the assault to the police.
Frequently asked questions
What does a minor vaginal tear look like?
A minor vaginal tear usually looks like a narrow red line, shallow crack or paper-cut-like split near the vaginal entrance. It may be surrounded by mild redness and produce a small spot of blood.
Can you have a vaginal tear without seeing it?
Yes. The tear may be tiny, concealed within a skin fold or located inside the vaginal canal. Pain, stinging and bleeding can occur even if no external cut is visible.
What does a vaginal tear from sex look like?
A vaginal tear caused by friction often looks like a short red split at the lower edge of the vaginal opening. It may sting and produce a small amount of fresh blood.
What does a healing vaginal tear look like?
A healing tear should become less red, swollen and raw. Its edges should remain together, bleeding should stop and pain should gradually improve. The new skin may initially look pink or slightly different in colour.
What colour is an infected vaginal tear?
An infected tear may look increasingly red and swollen and may produce yellow, green or pus-like discharge. Colour alone cannot diagnose infection; worsening pain, heat, bad odour or fever are more concerning warning signs.
Why do I keep tearing at the vaginal opening?
Recurrent tearing can be caused by dryness, insufficient lubrication, infection, contact dermatitis, pelvic-floor tension or a skin disorder such as lichen sclerosus. Repeated fissures should be medically assessed.
Can a vaginal tear cause bleeding?
Yes. Vaginal and vulval tissue has a good blood supply, so even a small tear can produce fresh bleeding. Heavy, persistent or unexplained bleeding needs medical assessment.
Can vaginal tears heal naturally?
Small, superficial tears often heal without stitches. Deeper, gaping or childbirth-related tears may require medical repair. The depth cannot always be judged from external appearance.
Do vaginal tears leave scars?
Some tears heal without a noticeable scar. Deeper tears or surgical repairs may leave a scar that initially feels firm, raised or sensitive. Scars often soften over time.
Is itching normal when a vaginal tear is healing?
Mild itching can occur as skin and stitches heal. Severe itching, worsening redness, discharge, white skin changes or recurrent splitting may indicate irritation, infection or a vulval skin condition.
The bottom line
A vaginal tear usually looks like a thin red line, shallow split or raw patch near the vaginal opening. It may sting, bleed lightly or hurt when urine touches it. A deeper tear can gape, expose underlying tissue or cause heavier bleeding, while an internal tear may not be visible at all.
Minor friction-related tears often improve with gentle care and avoidance of sex until healing is complete. Childbirth tears, persistent bleeding, severe pain, recurrent splitting, wound separation or signs of infection require professional assessment.
If you are unsure what you are seeing, do not rely on vaginal tear pictures to diagnose the injury. An examination is the only reliable way to identify the tear’s location, depth and appropriate treatment.
Medical disclaimer
This article provides general medical information and does not replace diagnosis, examination or personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Check out our related article on Implantation Bleeding Pictures.