The Effect of Delaying Childbirth on Primary Cesarean Section Rates

Abstract

BackgroundThe relationship between population trends in delaying childbirth and rising rates of primary cesarean delivery is unclear. The aims of the present study were (1) to characterize the association between maternal age and the outcome of labor, (2) to determine the proportion of the increase in primary cesarean rates that could be attributed to changes in maternal age distribution, and (3) to determine whether the contractility of uterine smooth muscle (myometrium) varied with maternal age.Methods and FindingsWe utilized nationally collected data from Scotland, from 1980 to 2005, and modeled the risk of emergency cesarean section among women delivering a liveborn infant in a cephalic presentation at term. We also studied isolated myometrial strips obtained from 62 women attending for planned cesarean delivery in Cambridge, England, from 2005 to 2007. Among 583,843 eligible nulliparous women, there was a linear increase in the log odds of cesarean delivery with advancing maternal age from 16 y upwards, and this increase was unaffected by adjustment for a range of maternal characteristics (adjusted odds ratio for a 5-y increase 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48–1.51). Increasing maternal age was also associated with a longer duration of labor (0.49 h longer for a 5-y increase in age, 95% CI 0.46–0.51) and an increased risk of operative vaginal birth (adjusted odds ratio for a 5-y increase 1.49, 95% CI 1.48–1.50). Over the period from 1980 to 2005, the cesarean delivery rate among nulliparous women more than doubled and the proportion of women aged 30–34 y increased 3-fold, the proportion aged 35–39 y increased 7-fold, and the proportion aged ≥40 y increased 10-fold. Modeling indicated that if the age distribution had stayed the same over the period of study, 38% of the additional cesarean deliveries would have been avoided. Similar associations were observed in multiparous women. When studied in vitro, increasing maternal age was associated with reduced spontaneous activity and increased likelihood of multiphasic spontaneous myometrial contractions.ConclusionsDelaying childbirth has significantly contributed to rising rates of intrapartum primary cesarean delivery. The association between increasing maternal age and the risk of intrapartum cesarean delivery is likely to have a biological basis.

Is There a Relation Between Maternal Age and Preferred Mode of Delivery?

“…Regarding the mode of delivery in a German investigation 77.1% (> 22 years) and 53.1 % (> 32 years) experienced spontaneous delivery, 14.5 % (< 22 years) and 32.3 % (> 32 years) had a caesarean section [6]. A British study [7] shows that increasing maternal age was associated with a longer duration of labour (0.49 h longer for a five years increase in age) and an increased risk of operative vaginal birth. Over the period from 1980 to 2005 caesarean delivery rate among nulliparious women more than double and proportion of women aged 30 -34 years increased threefold, proportion aged 35 -39 years increased sevenfold and proportion aged > 40 years increased tenfold.…”

Investigation of cesarean sections at Konya Training and Research Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Department between 2010 and 2015

“…It is known that the prevalence of hypertensive diseases, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and operative deliveries are increased for advanced age pregnancies [16].…”

Positive and negative effects of cellular senescence during female reproductive aging and pregnancy

“…In addition to impaired decidualization, intrapartum complications, such as long duration of labor and elevated risk of operative vaginal birth and emergency Cesarean deliveries, also increase with age (Smith et al 2008), which suggests that parturition is significantly compromised at older ages. Because the myometrium plays a direct role in uterine contractions, myometrial function may also be impaired with age.…”

“…Because the myometrium plays a direct role in uterine contractions, myometrial function may also be impaired with age. Indeed, myometrium from older women have reduced spontaneous activity and increased likelihood of multiphasic spontaneous myometrial contractions relative to younger women (Smith et al 2008).…”