Crystal Yellowhair, a mother of three, has come forward with allegations that a doctor performed an unauthorized and unnecessary suture, commonly referred to as a "husband stitch" or "daddy stitch," following the birth of her third child in May 2025. Yellowhair claims the procedure, intended to tighten a woman's vaginal opening for her partner's pleasure, led to months of agonizing pain, bleeding, and a subsequent corrective surgery.
Yellowhair, who lives in a rural area of eastern Arizona with limited maternity care options, stated that a locum doctor unfamiliar to her performed the delivery. She initially recounted that the doctor told her she had only needed one stitch. However, she later recalled the same doctor remarking that he had given her an "extra stitch to make you more taut," a comment he allegedly smiled about to her husband. At the time, exhausted from labor, Yellowhair did not challenge the remark but was left stunned.
The practice of adding an extra stitch after childbirth, often without the patient's consent, dates back to an era when doctors sometimes cut tissue between the vagina and anus during delivery. The "husband stitch" was allegedly performed by some practitioners to narrow the vaginal opening for increased sexual pleasure for the male partner. While medical guidelines have evolved, and episiotomies are now performed only when medically necessary, patients have continued to report instances of this procedure.
Following her birth, Yellowhair experienced persistent pain and bleeding. She alleges that her concerns were dismissed by hospital staff when she sought help. Months of discomfort culminated in a corrective surgery in April 2026, which involved a cauterization procedure she described as excruciating.
Yellowhair has since filed complaints with medical licensing boards and the hospital. The hospital, in a letter responding to her complaint, acknowledged her medical complications but disputed her explanation, stating their records showed no causal relationship to an unnecessary stitch. The doctor involved has reportedly denied adding an extra stitch, with the hospital suggesting he recalled the conversation as a joke initiated by her husband, a claim the couple strongly denies.
Campaign for Awareness
Yellowhair has turned to social media to raise awareness about her experience, amassing a significant following and sharing stories from other women who report similar encounters. She describes the practice as a violation of a new mother's autonomy and an "underrecognized form of female genital mutilation/cutting," as termed by the US End FGM/C Network.
Medical experts emphasize that such procedures offer no benefit to the mother and can lead to serious long-term consequences, including painful intercourse, vaginal prolapse, and psychological trauma. Performing any medical procedure without informed consent is illegal and can be grounds for a malpractice claim.
Due to her experience, Yellowhair and her family have relocated to St. George, Utah, seeking access to what they consider better healthcare facilities. She is currently raising funds online to support potential legal action and her family's recovery.
Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Daniel Niku advises any woman who suspects they have undergone an unauthorized extra stitch to report it to authorities immediately. He stressed that the vagina heals effectively with standard repairs after childbirth and that women should trust their experiences and report any non-consensual procedures. "I just want women to know they're not crazy," Yellowhair told the Daily Mail. "What they're feeling is valid, and what was done to them, if it was done without consent, is wrong."