Upper genital tract changes and infertility in diethylstilbestrol-exposed women

A possible relationship of upper genital tract abnormalities in the diethylstilbestrol-exposed woman and infertility was studied. Six hundred thirty-two women had roentgenography performed. Three hundred sixty-seven of these women were not using contraception and were actively trying to become pregnant. One hundred thirty-four (36%) of these women reported difficulties conceiving for a period of 1 or more years. Seventy-three percent of these women had abnormal hysterosalpingograms. The frequency of abnormal x-ray films in the women who did conceive within 1 year was essentially the same (74%). Furthermore, a similar number of women with normal x-ray films (37%) had difficulty conceiving as did women with abnormal x-ray films (36%). When specific hysterosalpingographic abnormalities were related to the presence or absence of infertility, it was observed that the presence of a constriction of the upper uterine cavity resulted in a 2.26-times greater likelihood that a woman would not be able to conceive. If a T-shaped uterus was found in association with constriction of the upper uterine cavity, the odds ratio for inability to conceive was found to be 2.63.