Frenulum labiorum pudendi

External genital organs of female. The labia minora have been drawn apart.

In female human anatomy, the frenulum labiorum pudendi (aka the fourchette or the posterior commissure of the labia minora) is a frenulum (fold of tissue) where the labia minora meet posteriorly (rearwards). In reassignment surgery for trans women, this is typically created in a labia revision stage even if vaginoplasty has been done as a "one stage" procedure.

Pathology

The fourchette may be torn during birth due to the sudden stretching of the vulval orifice, or during intercourse. To prevent this tearing in a haphazard manner, obstetricians and, less frequently, midwives may perform an episiotomy, which is a deliberate cut made in the perineum starting from the fourchette and continuing back along the perineum toward the anus. Sometimes this surgical cut may extend to involve the perineal body and thus reduce anal sphicter function. Thus some obstetricians have opted to perform a posterio-lateral cut in the perineum to prevent this potential complication from occurring.

The fourchette may also be torn in acts of violence wherein forced entry occurs such as rape. When the fourchette gets torn the bleeding which ensues sometimes requires surgical suturing for containment.

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