Perineovulvovaginal preparation in labor.

Seventy-four patients who received antenatal care and whose deliveries were supervised in our hospital were studied. Most of them were from the low socioeconomic class. Forty patients were shaved and all patients had the same routine perineal, vulval and vaginal swabbing during the first stage of labor. Puerperal morbidity was low. Even in developing countries where patients often have poor personal hygiene, shaving the vulval, pubic and perineal hair is unnecessary for patients whose pregnancies and deliveries are supervised in hospital. We suggest that the procedure should be reserved for patients who have complications of pregnancies which may necessitate instrumental or abdominal deliveries.