Abstract
Cesarean section is one of the most common surgical operations performed on women worldwide, and rates are increasing in all developed countries. There are many proposed causes of the increased rates. Although much safer than in the 1500s when it was first performed, cesarean section is still associated with significant short- and long-term morbidity for a woman and her infant. The issues of maternal obesity, induction of labor, continuous fetal heart rate monitoring in labor, vaginal birth after cesarean section, decision-making for the primary cesarean section and cesarean section for nonmedical indications must be addressed if we are to curb the concerning increase in this procedure.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.