Hysteroscopic treatment of uterine septum

Authors report their 4 years experience in the treatment of uterine septum by hysteroscopic metroplasty. 35 patients underwent procedure; no complications occurred. Postoperative reproductive outcome was evaluated in 29 women with follow-up longer than 6 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to presence or absence of associated factors compromising fertility. Group A composed of 19 women in which uterine septum was the only cause of pregnancy wastage. Preoperatively they had 40 pregnancies all ending in spontaneous abortion. Postoperatively 15 (79%) patients conceived and 13 (68%) had a live baby. Totally they had 18 pregnancies, 2 (12%) ended in abortion, 1 in molar pregnancy, 1 in premature delivery, 11 delivered at term and 3 are currently beyond 20 weeks pregnant, for a live birth rate of 78%. Life table analysis showed an estimated pregnancy rate of 82% at 12 months, monthly fecundability was 0.13. Group B composed of 10 women in which other factors compromising fertility were present. Preoperatively only 5 experienced pregnancy. Totally they had 8 pregnancies 7 (86%) of which ended in abortions and one in extrauterine pregnancy. Postoperatively only 3 (30%) had pregnancy and all had a live baby. Totally they had 4 pregnancies, 1 ended in abortion and 3 at term for a live birth rate of 75%. Life table analysis showed an estimated pregnancy rate of 11% at 12 months, monthly fecundability rate was 0.01. Hysteroscopic metroplasty proved to be safe and effective for solving pregnancy wastage caused by uterine septum. If other factors compromising fertility were present metroplasty did not increase fecundability, but improved live birth rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)