C-Section delivery could make having future children harder ─Study

* Women who delivered via CS under 70 percent likely to conceive a second time

* Researchers remain unsure about why this trend has emerged

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

A fresh study conducted by researchers from Penn State of the United States found that women who deliver their first babies via C-Section (CS) are less likely to conceive future children than those who deliver naturally.

It was learnt the researchers, in their observational study, stated that it is yet unclear why getting pregnant is harder the second time around for these women, though they hypothesised several reasons for why this could be the case.

Dr. Richard Legro, one of the researchers, said: “It is possible that pelvic or (fallopian) tubal scarring as a result of being exposed to open air and contaminants may affect subsequent attempts at getting pregnant.

“It is also possible that scar formation from the surgical wound in the uterus, though not in an area where pregnancies implant, may have lingering effects on the process of implantation.”

What happens after birth of the first baby?

To better understand why women who have C-Sections are less likely to conceive after their first child during the study, the researchers followed over 2,000 women through the first three years after they gave birth.

All of the women were under the age of 35 when the study began, and approximately 600 of them delivered their first child via C-Section.

The women reported on both their successful conceptions and unprotected intercourse. According to the study, women who delivered naturally were about 80 percent likely to be pregnant again within three years.

However, those who delivered via C-section were under 70 percent likely to conceive a second time.

The researchers further explained that those who had C-Section deliveries for their first babies were more likely to have other conditions that could make pregnancy complicated, including obesity and older age, among others.

While these factors could certainly come into play, the scientists took several factors into account when analysing their findings.

Such factors include age, weight, and predisposition to conditions like diabetes and blood pressure, said the report.

However, the study ruled out excessive pain or trauma post-C-Section as an underlying cause, as the women in the study were all trying to get pregnant a second time.

With all things considered, those who delivered with C-Sections were still around 10 percent less likely to get pregnant a second time.

They opined that those who may be thinking about opting for a C-Section over a natural delivery the first time, these findings highlight the difficulties many women face in future conception.

Dr. Legro stated: “It’s important that women who elect to have a C-Section know that there is a chance they may have difficulty conceiving in the future.”

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