Image illustrating infertility. Photo Source: Little Angel IVF.
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Conversations on pregnancy, childbirth, and infertility have resurfaced online as some social media users claimed that having a Cesarean section (C-section) in a previous pregnancy could cause infertility for a woman.
One Facebook user, Emily Ririh Lukitasari, in a group named ‘C-section mothers’ wrote, “One of the complications of a C-section that we don’t talk about is infertility.”
In the comment section, however, some other users vehemently disagreed with her, stating that they had undergone the procedure and have gone on to have other healthy pregnancies.
One user, identified as Euphresiah Litswa, argued that the poster did not provide sufficient information to support the claim.
“Matters of infertility must be backed with approved research. We all know how sensitive the topic is. The author ought to have explained herself,” Litswa replied, disputing the post.
However, some users stated that the internal scars could affect the fallopian tubes, which may inadvertently cause infertility.
Roger Dainford, one of those who appeared to support the post, wrote, “The internal scars during healing may impact the tubes.”
Leah Molly also wrote, “It doesn’t cause infertility; the only thing that may impact would be scar tissue that can sometimes affect the ovaries and tubes, but that’s very rare.”
Another user, Lucky Triss, posted the same information in the same group, as seen here.
One Facebook user, De Wesley, described as a pre- and post-surgery care specialist in his bio, previously made the same post in June 2026 and added more information in the comments.
The user explained that a C-section could cause the formation of adhesions and added that when these adhesions involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, they could distort the normal pelvic anatomy and cause secondary infertility for the woman.
He, however, explained that this issue does not necessarily affect all women while advising women to have their surgeries done at a registered hospital with skilled surgeons.
He wrote, “Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can develop after surgery, causing organs and tissues in the pelvis to stick together. When these adhesions involve the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, they can distort the normal pelvic anatomy and interfere with the natural process of conception.
“In some women, severe pelvic adhesions may contribute to secondary infertility…. the inability to conceive after a previous pregnancy.
“This doesn’t mean every woman who has a C-section will struggle with fertility. Many go on to have healthy pregnancies afterwards. However, adhesion formation is a recognised surgical complication that deserves more awareness and discussion…”
Does C-section actually cause infertility?
To address this, Abiola Odunola, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, walked DUBAWA through how this actually plays out in the body.
She explained that any surgery triggers an inflammatory healing response, and that response varies from person to person. “Each person reacts to a wound differently,” she said, noting that for some patients, “a healing wound can break down or become infected as the body’s own reaction, rather than a fault of the surgery.”
The gynaecologist said in other cases, tissue sticks together as it heals, forming adhesions. She stated that those adhesions involve the fallopian tubes, the structures responsible for carrying the egg and hosting fertilisation; they can impair tube function and reduce a woman’s chances of conceiving later on.
The medical expert further said infection during childbirth could also cause infertility. Odunola noted that women who undergo repeated vaginal examinations during a prolonged labour, or whose water breaks well before they reach the hospital and fail to inform the medical team, are more likely to develop a womb infection after delivery.
The obstetrician noted that as the womb heals from that infection, adhesions can form inside it, a condition she identified as uterine synechiae, and affected women stop menstruating altogether.
She, however, clarified that such an infection is not exclusive to C-section deliveries.
“Sometimes when a person delivers, it may not necessarily be through a C-section, and some parts of the placenta are retained in the uterus… such an infection can cause the whole uterus to stick together. This can also cause uterine synechiae, and such a woman will not menstruate,” she added.
The medical expert also explained that placenta accreta, a situation that occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the uterine wall during pregnancy and childbirth, could lead to infertility. Abiola said the condition could trigger bleeding severe enough that doctors have to remove the uterus to save the mother’s life, and without a uterus, pregnancy is not possible again.
“Basically, a C-section in itself does not cause infertility. But if there are complications, this can reduce the chances of getting pregnant,” she said.
Corroborating Abiola’s comment, Francis Agbaraolorunpo, a medical lecturer at the University of Lagos, told DUBAWA that secondary infertility tends to follow either post-surgical complications or a procedure performed by unqualified hands, rather than the C-section itself.
Francis said outside of those circumstances, there is no established link between the surgery and infertility.
Because childbirth is so sensitive, the focus is usually on regular checks by qualified medical professionals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that limited information, data gaps, and a lack of continuity in medical records during pregnancy and childbirth significantly hinder the quality of maternal care and early risk detection.
What studies say
A Cleveland Clinic article explained a term called ‘isthmocele (cesarean scar defect), describing it as a pouch that develops on the wall of a woman’s uterus if the incision from a past C-section doesn’t heal completely.
It is noted that about two to seven out of 10 women who have had at least one C-section develop some degree of isthmocele, which could be either mild or one with a deeper defect.
Some symptoms of isthmocele listed include irregular periods, difficulty getting pregnant, painful periods, pain during sex, pelvic pain, among others.
Complications that can arise from this procedure were listed as uterine rupture, ectopic pregnancy, placental problems in subsequent pregnancies and secondary infertility. Meanwhile, the most common treatment option is surgery to remove the excess scar tissue.
Reviewing a 2020 study on the subject, Healthline explained that more research is needed. This is even as the researchers of the 2020 study argued that when a first-time parent has a cesarean section, it lowers their chances of becoming pregnant again. The researchers couldn’t say exactly why, but suggested that uterine scarring due to the procedure might play a role.
“Out of the nearly 2,500 people followed for the study, about 69 per cent were able to conceive again within 3 years after having a C-section. Of those who had vaginal births, about 76 per cent were able to conceive in the same time frame. Still, the researchers of the 2020 study admit there were other factors (like geographical location and socioeconomic status) that could have easily affected the results.”
Meanwhile, the Healthline article did not give an exact answer to the question but specifically advised that mothers wait for a couple of months to allow the body to heal properly before trying for another child.
Conclusion
Experts confirm that a C-section, as a procedure itself, is not capable of causing infertility. However, if there are complications, infertility may arise, considering several factors.
