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A new synthesis of global evidence, published in Anaesthesia finds that chronic postsurgical pain after cesarean delivery is associated with substantial impairment in women's quality of life and everyday functioning in the months and years after giving birth.

The study was led by Dr. Sarah Ciechanowicz of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London, U.K., with first author Samira Alwahabi of Florida Atlantic University and co-authors from Stanford University, both in the U.S.

The systematic review of 30 studies involving 28,295 women found that chronic postsurgical pain was associated with persistent disruption to everyday functioning, including general activity, walking and normal work, as well as sleep, mood, fatigue and, in some cases, sexual function.

The authors say the findings underscore the importance of identifying at-risk women earlier and routinely assessing the impact of pain on daily life and mental health after cesarean delivery.

Chronic postsurgical pain is increasingly recognized as a complication of cesarean delivery and an important cause of health problems after childbirth, affecting an estimated 15% to 17% of women three to six months after giving birth. However, until now, there has been no comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence examining its broader impact on new mothers' health-related quality of life.

To find out more, researchers conducted a systematic review combining results from randomized controlled trials and observational studies, including cohort and cross-sectional studies published up to November 2025.

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