Abstract
Cesarean section is an operation that facilitates safe delivery for mothers and babies when complications arise. In overall terms, it has never been safer. However, rates of cesarean section are increasing on a worldwide scale and are now almost double the optimal rate recommended by the WHO. The time has come to critically appraise the role of cesarean section in modern obstetric practice so that we can be confident that when we deliver by cesarean section the benefits outweigh the risks. This review evaluates maternal and neonatal risks, short- and long-term morbidity and the consequences of cesarean section for a woman’s overall reproductive potential.