The short explanation
At a postnatal check, usually around six weeks after birth, the doctor may want to look at the area where you had stitches to check that it has healed well. This is often just a look at the outside, with a gentle touch if needed. A full internal examination with a speculum is not always required, and the doctor should explain what they plan and why. By six weeks, most stitches have dissolved and the skin has healed. The doctor will be gentle and can stop at any time. If you still have pain, tell them, as ongoing pain at the stitch site, pain during sex, or leaking urine or stools can be treated.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- The postnatal check usually also covers your bleeding, mood, breastfeeding, contraception and blood pressure.
- If you have not had cervical screening recently, the doctor may suggest timing it for a few months after birth.
- You can ask for a woman doctor and have someone with you.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell how your stitches have healed. The doctor needs to examine you to check.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Will you need to examine my stitches, and how?
- Is my healing normal?
- What can help with pain at the stitch site?
- When can I safely resume sex, and what contraception suits me?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have heavy bleeding soaking pads quickly, fainting, or severe pain with fever.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if your stitches become very painful, red, swollen or smell bad.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if you have leaking urine or stools, or pain that is not improving.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Attend your routine postnatal check around six weeks after birth.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Pelvic floor disorders MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Vaginal diseases MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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