The clinical case for a better standard of postpartum perineal repair, built on research, data, and real-world benefits.
The following clinical evaluations and peer reviewed articles support the clinical case for the Hegenberger Retractor. We are actively expanding our evidence base and welcome collaboration with institutions and researchers committed to elevating postpartum suturing outcomes.
Incomplete or inaccurate repairs frequently require follow-up intervention. Each repeat procedure carries clinical, staffing, and facility costs that far exceed the price of a single-use retractor.
Poorly repaired tears can lead to chronic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, and bladder or bowel complications requiring specialist referral and ongoing care that places sustained pressure on healthcare resources and on the mother.
Limited visualization during repair can result in unnecessary transfers to the operating room, which also separates the mother and/or partner from their newborn baby. Better visualization at the point of care reduces the likelihood of escalation, its associated costs, and keeps mother and her infant together.
Manual retraction requires an additional clinician or assistant. The Hegenberger Retractor allows the procedure to be performed independently, freeing skilled staff for other critical tasks and improving overall flow and unit efficiency. In addition, residents will be able to learn hands on instead of retracting during learning.
The Hegenberger Retractor aims to improve staff safety through hands-free retraction and two-handed suturing, which can support the reduction of needlestick injuries.
Perineal and vaginal repair is one of the most frequently performed procedures worldwide, yet it has historically received little clinical scrutiny, limited innovation, and inadequate training. The Hegenberger Retractor is the first device developed in almost 200 years by a Certified Nurse-Midwife, in an area where innovation has lacked.
The procedure went easier with the retractor – I didn’t notice it was used on me
I am a Senior Consultant from Denmark, and I have had the opportunity to use the Hegenberger Retractor for complex tears over a one-year period. It is now my first choice in both the labor room and the operating room. The intuitive use and the good overview it provides enable me to focus better as a clinician. It also causes less discomfort for the woman in treatment situations
I had no pain during suturing and was surprised that I didn’t in my perineum afterwards
I am a Senior Midwife from Norway, and I just want to say the Hegenberger Retractor is extremely easy to use. It is flexible, soft and anatomically fitted to the vaginal opening. It opens up and provides a fantastic overview of the vaginal area to be sutured. And a big advantage is that the hand you usually have to use to hold the area open is now “freed up” for wiping away blood and other tasks directly related to the actual suturing.
It took a bit longer than I thought, but the suturing was great and I’m so glad your invention gives women a better chance to be sutured properly
The Hegenberger Retractor is a fantastic concept, it’s self-retaining and almost like having a third hand. You don’t have to enter the vagina and manipulate the soft tissue numerous times.
As a new mother who has just given birth, and a midwife, I can really see the benefits of the Hegenberger Retractor from both perspectives, the patient and the clinicians. The sooner the Hegenberger is o every delivery trolley, the better!
I am a Junior Obstetrician, working for the NHS in England.
The retractor made it much easier to visualize the tear and the apex. It made suturing much quicker and limited blood loss because of that.
I am an Obstetrician in Demark.
The Hegenberger creates an overview that especially helps the inexperienced by freeing one hand for better suturing. It is easy to use and a simple and good support for suturing ruptures.
I now use the Hegenberger Retractor for all suturing, as it is literally my second pair of hands. Visibility is improved tenfold due to the ability of the Hegenberger Retractor to hold the vaginal walls aside. I do not envision going back to the old ways now and I’ve discovered the Hegenberger Retractor!
I have been an NHS midwife for 21 years. It dawned on me that I don’t even sew a badge on my daughters brownie outfit with one hand. Why should I be expected to do it on a mothers perineal repair? This is why the Hegenberger Retractor is a unique product! It allows you to suture using both your hands to repair the trauma caused by childbirth.
I used to hate suturing, now I’m happy to suture thanks to Hegenberger’s visibility and retractor, hands free. It’s a big help!
There is a risk that you stitch muscle to skin, rather than muscle to muscle, which can cause pain during sex. Using the Hegenberger Retractor makes these complications far less likely.
The Hegenberger Retractor provides me with the ideal overview and calm that I need to repair complicated birth traumas.
I just really find it helpful if any challenging tear or difficult tear. Before I never used metal speculum because it is so hard and most of the women will feel pain as soon as we insert it however, with Hegenberger Retractor no complaints or resistance or even pushing and closing it out. It is easy to put in and remove. I will be happy to continue using it.
After 40 hours of labour, those first few precious moments with her were denied to me as I was taken away for emergency surgery without a general anesthetic for a third-degree tear that took two hours to resolve. It was the most terrifying experience of my entire life. I thought I was going to die. But the lack of support afterwards has left me determined to improve care for new mothers.
The Hegenberger Retractor saves suturing time on a busy delivery Suite with 7,000 + births per year.
The Hegenberger Retractor is a patented medical device; a uniquely designed postpartum perineal repair retractor purpose-built by a certified nurse-midwife. Shaped to fit the birth canal and designed for hands-free, self-retaining retraction, it represents a commitment to raising the standard of a procedure that has gone without meaningful innovation for decades.
The Hegenberger Retractor is supported by a growing body of clinical research, peer-reviewed studies, and real-world feedback from clinicians across multiple countries. Our research section above contains links to published studies and relevant literature. We are actively expanding our evidence base through ongoing clinical collaboration.
Yes. Independent clinical research has been conducted to evaluate the Retractor’s performance in postpartum suturing environments. Links to published studies are available in the Clinical Studies section above.
The Hegenberger Retractor holds regulatory approvals across multiple markets. For a full and up-to-date list of regional approvals, please refer to the Regulatory Approvals section above or contact us directly.
We are developing a formal cost-benefit analysis to quantify the downstream savings associated with higher-quality perineal repairs. The clinical and financial case for reducing repeat procedures and long-term follow-up costs is significant. Please contact us for more information or to discuss the evidence in the context of your institution.
Links to published abstracts and full papers are available in the the research section above. For studies that are not publicly accessible, please contact us and we will do our best to support your review.
The Hegenberger Retractor is the only retractor designed specifically for postpartum repair. Existing alternatives were designed for gynecological or general surgical use but are not purpose-built for the birth canal or the suturing procedure that follows delivery. Clinical feedback consistently highlights the improvement in visualization and suturing technique that the Retractor enables.
Yes. The combination of clinical studies, real-world outcomes, regulatory approvals, and cost-benefit data provides a strong foundation for procurement approval. We also provide a downloadable information pack designed to support internal discussions and budget approvals. Download yours here.
Absolutely. We actively welcome collaboration with clinical institutions, academic researchers, and healthcare organizations committed to improving postpartum suturing outcomes. Please get in touch via our contact page to discuss opportunities.
