Daily practice management of septate uterus: reproductive outcome after septoplasty

BACKGROUND: Septate uterus is the most common uterine malformation found in women presenting poor reproductive history. Hysteroscopic septoplasty (HS) restores the uterine anatomy in a safe procedure. OBJECTIVES: The goal of our study was to determine the reproductive outcomes after HS of symptomatic septate uterus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective observational single centre study the reproductive outcomes and complications after HS were evaluated in 31 women with symptomatic septate uterus. The patients were separated into two groups according to the symptoms - infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Main outcome measures were the pregnancy and live birth rate and secondarily the complication rate. Furthermore, the results were analysed depending on the need of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). RESULTS: The treatment resulted in an overall pregnancy rate of 71% for both groups. The spontaneous pregnancy rate was 45% and 8 pregnancies resulted from ART (26%). The overall first live birth rate is 51.6%. A decrease was seen in the miscarriage rate from 95.24% to 24% (p<0.001) in the overall population. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a symptomatic septate uterus hysteroscopic septoplasty is a safe and effective procedure. The favourable results pointing out the benefits of surgery on the reproductive outcomes as well as the relatively simple and safe technique of HS make the intervention attractive.