Children whose mothers needed drugs to start giving birth are slightly more likely to have autism, US researchers say.
A study of 625,000 children, published in JAMA Pediatrics, showed the autism link was stronger in boys.
Scientists have called for more research to explain the difference as it is not clear why there would be a link.
Doctors said inducing labour was safe, necessary and could save a baby's life.
Autism is thought to be caused by a combination of family, or genetic, risk and conditions in the womb and early life while the child is developing.
Researchers said that two cases of autism in every 1,000 births might be prevented by stopping induction. However, they warned this would come at significant cost as the procedure could be life-saving.
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