Researchers at the Oxford University in Britain have carried out the study and found that women who undergo a caesarean section run a significantly increased chance of a hysterectomy following the birth of their next child, The Guardian reported in London on Tuesday.

According to lead researcher Dr Marian Knight, "It's rare for a woman to have a hysterectomy following childbirth, but there is no doubt that there is a big increase in risk with previous delivery by caesarean section. It is not a risk-free procedure.

"The problem arises because the placenta sometimes grows either too low or through the wall of the womb in those women who have had surgery. It is more likely to grow where the scar is, low down in the womb. That can predispose the woman to bleeding afterwards."

The researchers came to the conclusion after analyzing a data of 775,000 women who gave birth between February 2005 and February 2006 in the United Kingdom.

They found that the risk of a hysterectomy which puts an end to childbearing is raised by 350 per cent in those women who had a caesarean.

The researchers also found that women with twin pregnancies, older mothers and those who already had three or more children were also at higher risk of needing a hysterectomy.