How long the pain actually lasts
Longer than six weeks for a substantial minority.
Most acute pain improves substantially by two weeks and considerably by six. But pain that persists is more common than women are told.
In a prospective cohort of 1,554 women, persistent pain at one year occurred in 22% of women after cesarean compared with 8% after vaginal birth. Moderate or worse pain at one year occurred in 7% versus 4%.
In another prospective study of 527 women followed after cesarean, chronic pain was present in 18.3% at three months, 11.3% at six months, and 6.8% at twelve months.
22%
Any persistent pain at one year after cesarean
1,554 women
8%
After vaginal birth
Same cohort
6.8%
Chronic pain still present at 12 months
527 women
Why this is worth saying out loudA woman still in pain at four months who was told recovery takes six weeks concludes something is wrong with her. Knowing that roughly one in five women has some persistent pain at a year changes that from failure into a known outcome that deserves evaluation.
Where this comes from:
317. Kainu JP, Halmesmäki E, Korttila KT, Sarvela PJ. Persistent pain after cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery: a prospective cohort study. Anesth Analg. 2016;123(6):1535-1545.
318. Jin J, Peng L, Chen Q, Zhang D, Ren L, Qin P, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for chronic pain following cesarean section: a prospective study. BMC Anesthesiol. 2016;16:99.
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This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.