Planned C-Sections Linked to Slightly Increased Risk of Childhood Leukemia, Study Finds

Planned C-Sections Linked to Slightly Increased Risk of Childhood Leukemia, Study Finds
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Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet found that children born via planned Cesarean section have a higher risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a common childhood cancer, compared to those born vaginally. The study analyzed the health of nearly 2.5 million children and found a 21% increased risk of ALL and a 29% higher risk of B-cell ALL in planned C-section births. This increased risk was more pronounced in boys and in early childhood.

The team suggested possible reasons for this link, noting that babies born by planned C-section avoid exposure to vaginal bacteria and the stress of labor, which may affect immune development. However, the risk remains low overall, with the excess risk corresponding to about one additional case of B-cell ALL annually.

The findings, published in The International Journal of Cancer, do not discourage medically necessary C-sections, which are often life-saving. However, they raise questions about non-medically indicated C-sections, which have become more common globally. In the U.S., C-sections account for roughly one in three births. The study’s lead author emphasized the rarity of ALL and called for further research.