WASHINGTON, MAY 8, 2006 – One of the most prominent medical experts in the field of obstetrics showed how cesarean birth, which was five percent of births in the 1950s, has become one of the most common surgical procedure in the United States today.

At the March of Dimes Lecture at the 54th annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) here, Dr. Fredric Frigoletto Jr., M.D. described how during the last 50-years advances in medical care, an expanded role in health care for policymakers and payers, a changing role for the patients in evaluating and selecting health care options, practice style and malpractice lawsuits all have contributed to the dramatic rise in C-sections. The increase in the C-section birth rate is both important and fascinating and will continue into the near future, Dr. Frigoletto said.

 Dr. Frigoletto is the Charles Montraville Green and Robert Montraville Green Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harvard Medical School and Associate Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital.

Among other things, Dr. Frigoletto said, there has been a change of attitude in the culture, an increase in maternal age, weight and birthweight (the number of triplets rose from 37 every 100,000 live births in 1980 to 193 every 100,000 live births in 1988). Dr. Frigoletto also provided statistics on health insurance and finances, showing, for instances, that women with private insurance are much more likely to have a C-section birth.

Early C-sections and medically induced labor may be contributing to the growing number of babies who are born late pre-term, between 34 and 36 weeks gestation, the March of Dimes warned earlier this year.

“Dr. Frigoletto is a wonderful teacher and he sets a great example for people who train and work under him,'' said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “His body of work is almost exclusively in obstetrics. He has a strong interest in dealing with preterm birth, the biggest problem in obstetrics today.'' Dr. Frigoletto is also Chair of the March of Dimes Scientific Advisory Committee for the Prematurity Campaign.