Background: Sphincter injury is serious complication in connection to vaginal childbirth. Desire to avoid vaginal birth again is seen in women who previously suffered from a sphincter injury.Objective: To identify and evaluate obstetric guidelines in Sweden regarding sphincter injury in relation to childbirthMethod: Content analysis with a combination of a deductive and inductive approach.Results: The most frequently occurring risk factors and prevention with help of perineal protection were described in the guidelines. The physician made diagnosis and repaired the sphincter injury at the theatre.  Complications such as coital pain and anal incontinence were described in the guidelines. Paracetamol and diclofenac was most common analgesic regimen given for pain.

Background: The prevalence of sphincter rupture during childbirth has increased in Sweden from half percent to three percent from 1973 to 1993. Women who undergo planned home birth have sphincter injuries to a smaller extent than women who undergo planned hospital births. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe women?s experience of the last stages of delivery during planned home birth. Design: Inductive content analysis of 150 randomly selected delivery reports.