A cut from the vaginal opening into the perineum to enlarge the clitoral opening during childbirth and to prevent tearing of the perineum. This procedure is not generally necessary, but it is done routinely by most physicians. Also, in contrast to the careful, painstaking microsutures used by plastic surgeons on cuts and wounds, most sew the cut with a few relatively large stitches. Obstetricians do not recognize that the perineum is part of the clitoris.