A primipara is in labor and an episiotomy is about to be cut. Compared with a midline episiotomy, an advantage of mediolateral episiotomy is:

Midline episiotomies are easier to fix and have a smaller incidence of surgical breakdown, less pain, and lower blood loss. The incidence of dyspareunia is somewhat less. However, the incidence of extensions of the incision to include the rectum is considerably higher than with mediolateral episiotomies. Type of Episiotomy Type of Episiotomy Characteristic Midline Mediolateral Surgical repair Easy More difficult Faulty healing Rare More common Postoperative pain Minimal Common Anatomical results Excellent Occasionally faulty Blood loss Less More Dyspareunia Rare Occasional Extensions Common Uncommon Ref: Cunningham F.G., Leveno K.J., Bloom S.L., Hauth J.C., Rouse D.J., Spong C.Y. (2010). Chapter 17. Normal Labor and Delivery. In F.G. Cunningham, K.J. Leveno, S.L. Bloom, J.C. Hauth, D.J. Rouse, C.Y. Spong (Eds), Williams Obstetrics, 23e.