infertility

A septate uterus, or uterine septate, is actually a defect in the uterus that forms while a woman is still in utero. Instead of developing normally, the uterus develops with a division. Sometimes, the dividing tissue, called a septum, does not fully divide the uterus but instead only extends a little way into the womb. For others, the septate is complete and not only is the entire uterus divided, but so is the cervix - thereby making two of each. For the most part, having a septate uterus doesn’t hurt anything. There are no physical risks for a woman with this condition. However, it does sometimes cause a problem when a woman is trying to conceive. The septate is a tissue much like a ligament — it’s not blood rich. What does that mean? In a nutshell, if an impregnanted egg attempts to implant on this septum, it will not survive. The developing embryo cannot gain enough nutrients to survive, and a miscarriage is inevitable. For women who appear fertile in the fact that they have no trouble conceiving, yet cannot seem to carry a pregnancy to term, a hysterosalpingogram is necessary to explore the idea of a uterine septum. If the woman is diagnosed with a septate uterus, surgery can be performed to remove the septum. Chances for a successful pregnancy afterward vary, but some reports give up to an 85% success rate.

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