In 1996, I had a cesarean birth with general anesthesia for my first baby. It took me only nine months to get pregnant that time. I'm now 34. I've been trying to get pregnant again without success. I've heard recently that a cesarean birth could cause sterility. Is that true?

Isabelle

Cesarean section is rarely a cause of infertility. If the surgical procedure is followed by a severe pelvic infection, abnormalities can develop in the uterine lining; this is called intrauterine adhesion formation. Adhesions might also form around the fallopian tubes and ovaries.

But even for those women with postcesarean infection, the risk of sterility is low. It appears that zinc in the amniotic fluid that is released into the abdomen during the delivery may play a role in minimizing infections of the pelvic cavity and fallopian tubes. Other hormonal changes that occur with pregnancy may also minimize the risk of scar tissue formation. When compared with other similar pelvic surgeries, in fact, sterility is less a factor after cesarean than after most other open abdominal procedures.