Persistent Pain After Cesarean Delivery and Vaginal Delivery: A Prospective Cohort Study
Abstract
Background Persistent pain after cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery has been the subject of only a few research articles. The primary outcome of our prospective study was the incidence of persistent pain and its association to mode of delivery. We also studied the nature and intensity of pain after delivery. Methods A questionnaire was distributed on postpartum day 2 to 1052 women who had given birth vaginally and to 502 who had undergone cesarean delivery in a tertiary maternity hospital in Helsinki, Finland, in 2010. A second questionnaire was mailed to the women 1 year later. We recorded the women's health history, obstetric history and previous pain history, details of cesarean delivery or vaginal delivery, and description of pain, if present. Results The incidence of persistent pain at 1 year after delivery was greater after cesarean delivery (85/379 [22%]) than after vaginal delivery (58/713 [8%]: P Conclusions The incidence of persistent pain at 1 year is greater after cesarean delivery than after vaginal delivery. Pain shortly after cesarean delivery and during vaginal delivery correlated with persistent pain.
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Cesarean delivery is associated with an approximately 12-33% higher risk of postpartum depression.
“Research indicates that cesarean delivery is associated with an approximately 12–33% higher risk of PPD.64”
Cites
The prevalence of chronic pain in United States adults: Results of an Internet-based survey
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Acute Pain after Thoracic Surgery Predicts Long-Term Post-Thoracotomy Pain
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Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Persistent Pain Following Breast Cancer Surgery
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Chronic pain after thoracic surgery: a follow‐up study
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Fagan, J., Dufour, S., Duet, S., Downs, E., Siddaiah, H., Viswanath, O., Shekoohi, S., & Kaye, A. (2026) · Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment · doi:10.2147/ndt.s579920
- Authors
- Kainu, J. P., Halmesmäki, E., Korttila, K. T., & Sarvela, P. J.
- Affiliations
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Kainu, J. Petter
- Korttila, Kari T.
- Sarvela, P. Johanna
- Venue
- Anesthesia & Analgesia
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 123
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1535-1545
- ISSN
- 0003-2999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2548235365
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 4.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Anesthesia & Analgesia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pregnancy-related medical research
- Keywords
- cesarean section, vaginal delivery, mode of delivery, dyspareunia, postoperative pain, primiparous women, history of pain, perineal trauma, episiotomy, vacuum extraction, endometritis, wound infection, postpartum depression, pain intensity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Cesarean Section, Dyspareunia, Female, Finland, Hospitals, Maternity, Humans, Middle Aged, Pain Measurement, Postoperative Pain, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Incidence, Chi-Square Distribution, Linear Models, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio, Treatment Outcome, Parturition, Labor Pain, Young Adult, Tertiary Care Centers
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