A blind study was done comparing a group of women who used the epi-no and a group of women who didn't use it six months after birth and there was no difference in the perineum. From my personal experience with hundreds of women who have used the epi-no, no one complained that they were "stretched out" after the birth from the epi-no. After a birth, you are never a "virgin" and that is normal, which makes it easier second birth. That has nothing to do with the epi-no.