Perineal massage during labor to prevent perineal tears
Official title: Perineal Massage During Labor for the Prevention of Perineal Trauma
Run by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul · NCT07099690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether perineal massage during labor helps prevent perineal tears or the need for an episiotomy in people at term with a head-down baby.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 466 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 2, 2024 |
| Main results expected | July 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 15, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 26, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07099690 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people in active labor at 37–42 weeks with a head-down (cephalic) fetus who have not done perineal massage during prenatal care.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who require cesarean delivery, have HELLP syndrome, or have unstable maternal or fetal vital signs are unlikely to benefit because they are excluded or cannot receive the intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized interventional study assigns people in labor to either receive perineal massage during labor or to receive standard care without massage. Eligible participants are at 37–42 weeks' gestation with a cephalic-presenting fetus and no prior antenatal perineal massage, while those who progress to cesarean delivery, develop HELLP syndrome, or have unstable maternal or fetal vital signs are excluded. Perineal massage will be performed at the bedside according to the site's protocol and outcomes will focus on rates of perineal laceration and episiotomy. The trial is conducted at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, led by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce perineal tears and the need for episiotomy, improving postpartum recovery and lowering pelvic floor injury risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous randomized trials and meta-analyses have shown mixed results, with some studies reporting reduced severe tears or episiotomy rates and others showing minimal effect.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients currently in labor * Gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks * Fetus presenting in cephalic position * No prior perineal massage performed during prenatal care Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who progress to cesarean delivery * Diagnosis of HELLP syndrome * Unstable vital signs of the laboring woman or fetus
Where it's running
-
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gabriela Plentz Stein
- Email: gabrielaplentz.fisio@gmail.com
- Phone: +55 51997710248
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.