A study published in the journal Human Reproduction claims women who deliver via C-section may have more difficulty conceiving after delivery than women who birth vaginally. The study, completed by authors at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, reports a 9% reduction in subsequent pregnancies in women who deliver via C-section.
Researchers reviewed medical literature published in the Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline and other medical databases. Studies of more than 85,000 women were reviewed with a clear indication that C-section delivery reduced fertility, but researchers noted the methodology used in the studies varied significantly.
Methodology plays an important role in study outcomes. Included studies failed to control for certain maternal risk factors for infertility. Researchers conclude additional research is needed with stricter controls to verify any impact of C-section delivery on fertility.
Source: Gurol-Urganci I, Bou-Antoun S, Lim CP, Cromwell DA, Mahmood TA, Templeton A, van der Meulen JH. Impact of Caesarean section on subsequent fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod. 2013 May 3.