Background

Septate uterus, i.e. an incompletely septated uterus or uterus subseptus, is one of the most common forms of congenital uterine malformations [1]. The incidence of congenital uterine malformations has been reported to be as high as 3-4% in the general female population [2, 3] and to be significantly higher in patients with infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss [3, 4].

Septate uterus results from incomplete resorption of the paramesonephric muellerian ducts during the first trimester of pregnancy. The absorption of the septum normally initiates at the level of the uterine cervix and continues upwards in the direction of the uterine fundus. Depending on the size of the septum, the uterine cavity may be affected only partially, as in case of an incomplete septate uterus, or it may be divided into two separate components including two cervices and eventually a vaginal septum, as in case of a complete septate uterus.

A uterine septum affects female reproductive health in three ways: (i) obstetric complications, (ii) recurrent miscarriages, and (iii) infertility [5]. Although clinical studies consistently demonstrate a poorer obstetric outcome in patients with septate uterus compared to women without uterine anomalies [5, 6], literature on septate uterus as the primary cause of female infertility is controversial. Fedele et al., for example, were the first to postulate that septate uterus may influence fertility by hindering embryo implantation [7]. This hypothesis was based on histological samples obtained during operative hysteroscopy demonstrating the following ultra-structural alterations in the septal endometrium compared to endometrium of the lateral uterine wall: (i) a reduced number of glandular ostia, (ii) irregularly distributed ciliated cells with incomplete ciliogenesis, and (iii) a reduction of the ciliated to non-ciliated cell ratio. These factors are believed to cause the poor response to estrogens in the septal mucosa, since normal serum estrogens levels were found in all patients. Others demonstrated inadequate uterine vascularisation leading to subsequent abnormal placentation in women with a septate uterus [8]. Moreover, clinical studies in women with septate uterus reported an increased content of muscle tissue as well as an increased and uncoordinated contractility of the uterine septum [9].

On the other hand, Sparac found no differences in vascularisation assessed by transvaginal colour Doppler ultrasound comparing endometrium and uterine septum [9]. In another study, histological examination of uterine septum biopsies from three different sites of the septum, namely the basis, the midpoint, and the tip, demonstrated no differences in terms of muscle tissue and vessel density compared to biopsies from the left posterior aspect of the uterus [10].

Available literature on reproductive outcome after uterine septoplasty is inconsistent. For example, pregnancy rates ranging from 39% [11] to 81% [12] and life birth rates ranging from 26% [13] to 73% [14] have been reported. Most of these studies were retrospective. To our best knowledge, no prospective randomised trial comparing septoplasty to no intervention has been published and is, for ethical reasons, unikely to be conducted in the future.

The aim of our study was to examine the safety and efficacy of hysteroscopic correction of septate uterus by hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty using a retrospective series of affected women. Furthermore, we conducted a systematic review and pooled analysis of studies reporting on reproductive outcome, complications, and re-operation rates after this procedure.

Methods

Patients

We retrospectively evaluated all patients having undergone hysteroscopic resection of a uterine septum at our department from 1997 to 2006. Primary outcome parameter was obstetric outcome (number of pregnancies, number of life births). As a second outcome parameter we evaluated the number and type of intra- and postoperative complications in order to gain information on the safety of the procedure.

A total of 64 women were enrolled in the study. Fourteen patients (22%) presented with primary infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse. Fifty patients (78%) presented with secondary infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse after having already conceived at least once. Twenty-two of 50 patients with secondary infertility (44%) have been diagnosed with recurrent abortion, defined as three or more consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses before 20 weeks gestation. Written informed consent was obtained from patients for publication of the data presented. Copies of the written consents are available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.

Surgical technique

All operations were performed as in-patient surgery. We neither used any form of long-term pre-treatment with danazol or gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, nor pre-operative intravaginal administration of misoprostol in contrast to other investigators [15]. Uterine septoplasty was performed under general anaesthesia by two surgeons combining hysteroscopy and diagnostic laparoscopy. All procedures were performed in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, usually within seven days after the end of menstruation. In 38 women patency of the fallopian tubes was tested by chromo-pertubation with Lipiodol (Lipiodol Ultrafluid Ampul™, Guerbet, Austria) which was performed after septoplasty.

After cervical dilation with Hegar's dilators up to a width of 10 mm, an operative hysteroscope (Storz 10 mm fibreoptic resectoscope; Storz GmbH, Germany) was inserted. The uterine cavity was distended with a 1.5% glycine solution with a continuous irrigating flow. The hysteroscope's hook was placed in contact with the septum and an incision was made perpendicular to the septum. All operations were performed with monopolar electrosurgery, no scissors or lasers were used. The aim of the procedure was to accomplish a triangular and symmetric uterine cavity, which was achieved in all of the patients Uterine septoplasty was performed under laparoscopic supervision.

Follow up

All patients were sent a questionnaire per mail. The following questions were evaluated: whether the patient tried to get pregnant after septoplasty; the number of pregnancies achieved; the number of miscarriages, extrauterine pregnancies, and spontaneous abortions, and the number of life births including information on gestational week and delivery mode; and whether patients had undergone any form of assisted reproductive techniques. All patients were asked to return the completed questionnaire and, in case that they had delivered in another hospital, to enclose a copy of the hospital delivery report or another document proving the life birth of a child.

Statistical analysis

Variables are described by frequencies and mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the mean. Differences between groups were analyzed by Chi square and Fisher's exact test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multiple comparisons were corrected by Bonferroni's correction. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 15.0.1 for Windows (SPSS Inc, 1989-2006).

Systematic literature review

We searched Medline and EMBASE and the Cochrane controlled trials register (search date: 20.12.2009; search terms: uterus subseptus, septate uterus, infertility, hysteroscopy, septoplasty) to identify cohort studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating the reproductive outcome after hysteroscopic septoplasty in women diagnosed with septate uterus. Studies were included if they were published as complete reports in English. Bibliographies of studies were searched for relevant citations. Multiple studies describing the same study population were included once. In this case, the original publication was used, i.e. the one with the earliest date of publication. Two authors assessed the eligibility of the studies and extracted data (KN and JO). Missing information and additional trials were not sought from authors. Data on pregnancy, life birth rates, complications, and re-hysteroscopy rates were extracted, pooled, and re-analyzed.

Results

Surgical procedure

Fifty-seven of 64 patients (89%) underwent uterine septoplasty as described above including diagnostic laparoscopy and operative hysteroscopy. The mean age of the patients was 30.3 ± 5.7 years, the mean body mass index was 23.9 ± 2.7, and the mean duration of infertility was 4.5 ± 2.7 years. In 4/64 patients (6%) only operative hysteroscopy for dissection of the uterine septum was performed, whereas 3 patients (4%) underwent an additional curettage. Sixty-two patients had uneventful intraoperative and postoperative courses. However, in 2/64 (3%) patients, uterine perforation occurred. In both cases no adjacent organs were injured and the complication was managed by bipolar coagulation. No sutures were applied. No postoperative episode of fever was noted.

Re-septoplasty

In 8/64 (13%) patients a second intervention was necessary since the uterine septum had not been completely removed during the first operation. The re-operation was done after a mean of 14.4 ± 10.7 months. Re-septoplasty was more often necessary in patients who had undergone hysteroscopy only than in those who had undergone combined hysteroscopy and laparoscopy (2/4 [50% vs. 6/45 [11%]; p = 0.07).

Obstetric outcome

Complete follow-up was available for 49/64 (77%) patients. Mean follow-up time was 68.6 ± 25.2 months. All of the patients tried to become pregnant after septoplasty. The overall pregnancy rate after septoplasty was 69% (34/49). Eleven patients reported more than one pregnancy. Specifically, six women had two pregnancies, two women had three pregnancies, two women had four pregnancies, and one woman had six pregnancies, respectively. Thus, we registered a total of 49 pregnancies. Sixteen pregnancies had resulted from in vitro fertilization (33%), three pregnancies from insemination (6%), and the remaining 27 pregnancies (55%) resulted from spontaneous conception.

The overall life birth rate (LBR) was 49% (24/49). All life births were confirmed by hospital birth records. Three patients reported two life births, one patient reported three life births. Table 1 shows the reproductive outcome of women with and without a history of early spontaneous miscarriages and women with and without a history of recurrent miscarriages, ie three or more miscarriages. Women with a history of recurrent miscarriages had a significantly higher pregnancy rate after uterine septoplasty compared to women without a history of recurrent miscarriages.

Table 1 Obstetric outcome after hysteroscopic septoplasty of women with and without a history of early miscarriage and of women with and without a history of recurrent miscarriage
Full size table

The mean time interval between uterine septoplasty and the first delivery was 35.8 ± 22.5 months. Out of a total of 29 life births, 9 (31%) were preterm deliveries before 37 weeks gestation. No difference regarding preterm deliveries was observed comparing patients with or without a history of recurrent miscarriages (6/21 [29%] vs. 3/8 [38%], respectively; p = 0.6).

Figure 1 shows a graph of the time to first life birth in women after uterine septoplasty, demonstrating a slow, but consistent increase of life births during the observation period of 80 months. Cesarean section was the delivery mode in 12/29 (41%) women. The remaining 17 babies were delivered vaginally (59%). None of the patients was diagnosed with uterine rupture in the course of pregnancy and delivery.

Figure 1
figure 1

Cumulative life birth rate after uterine septoplasty.

Full size image

Cofactors of infertility

Complete information on hormonal status, patency rates of the fallopian tubes, and the result of the partner's semen analysis was available for 21/64 (33%) women. Male factor, unilateral tubal factor, bilateral tubal factor, and hormonal pathologies, ie hyperprolactinemia, hyperandrogenemia, and thyroid dysfunction were noted in 14, 9, 3, and 11 of these women, respectively. Women with a bilateral tubal factor underwent in vitro fertilization. In 8/49 (16%) women, a change of the male partner was noted.

Systematic review and meta-analysis

We identified 18 studies investigating the outcomes after hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty [11–28]. One study was excluded from the analysis of obstetric outcomes, because data on pregnancy rates and LBR could not be extracted [17]. Table 2 provides an overview of the individual studies including our own data and a pooled analysis of 1501 women, yielding an overall pregnancy rate of 60.1% (892/1501) and a LBR of 45.0% (686/1501) after uterine septoplasty.

Table 2 Literature on pregnancy rates and live birth rates after hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty in women with septate uterus
Full size table

Details on postoperative complications and re-hysteroscopy rates are given in Table 3. For this analysis we excluded four studies [11, 12, 16, 18] with a total of 242 patients because the complication rates were not given in these studies. The pooled analysis of 14 studies with 1324 women undergoing uterine septoplasty resulted in an overall complication rate of 1.7% (23/1324). The overall rate of re-hysteroscopy was 6.0% (79/1324). There was no statistically significant difference regarding overall PR, LBR, and complications comparing our series with the pooled data from 17 studies in the literature (data not shown).

Table 3 Literature on complications during and after hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty in women with septate uterus
Full size table

Discussion

In this retrospective cohort study of 64 women and a pooled analysis of 18 studies including 1501 women, we describe a pregnancy rate of 60% and a LBR of 45% after hysteroscopic septoplasty in women with septate uterus. We conclude that hysteroscopic septoplasty is a simple, effective, and safe procedure with an intra- and postoperative complication rate of 1.7%. Our data, therefore, support the use of this procedure and confirm a high rate of reproductive success in women with a septate uterus.

Septate uterus used to be treated by transabdominal metroplasty [29]. This surgical method has been substituted by operative hysteroscopy. The reasons were a high complication rate of abdominal metroplasty including the risk of postoperative adhesions potentially leading to infertility. Also, abdominal metroplasty was associated with an increased risk of scar rupture during pregnancy, resulting in the recommendation of cesarean section as the preferred mode of delivery [29]. Furthermore, laparotomy is associated with longer hospital stays compared to operative hysteroscopy.

The only advantage of performing a laparotomy in women with septate uterus is the possibility to evaluate and diagnose associated pelvic pathologies and to assess tubal patency [30]. However, this can easily be achieved by concomitant hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. For example, in our series, 12/57 women were found to have a uni- or bilateral tubal factor. In addition, concomitant laparoscopy helped us to control the septum dissection from outside the uterus, diagnose and manage uterine perforation, if it occurred, and to potentially minimize the risk of such a complication. On the other hand, however, most series included in this review did not use concomitant laparoscopy with no apparent disadvantage regarding safety and efficacy of the procedure.

We used a resectoscope for septoplasty in our series. In the investigated studies, several different methods and instruments for hysteroscopic septoplasty have been described, namely scissors, resectoscope, and argon laser. Data on the impact of the hysteroscopic technique on the reproductive outcome, however, are rare. Cararach et al. compared the reproductive outcome of patients operated by resectoscope with those in whom scissors have been used. They found a higher pregnancy rate in the scissors group [31]. On the other hand, Fedele et al. could not find a difference comparing the reproductive outcome results obtained with microscissors, argon laser, and resectoscope, in their series [7]. Thus, it is unclear, whether the use of a specific instrument may improve outcome and further comparative trials should be encouraged. Operative hysteroscopy may be performed using monopolar or bipolar electrosurgery. Bipolar electrosurgery uses isotonic saline as distension medium and may be safer and more effective for hysteroscopic surgery compared to monopolar electrosurgery based on one randomized trial [32]. A definitive recommendation, however, is premature at this time.

The insertion of intrauterine device (IUD) has been proposed as an option to potentially prevent both postoperative pregnancy and the development of intrauterine adhesions [30]. This practice, however, is not recommended and it's efficacy is unknown. In our series, we did not use an IUD system and advised the patients to use a safe contraceptive method for three months after surgery.

Re-operations were rarely necessary in our series and in the pooled analysis of all 18 trials with re-operation rates of 3% and 6%, respectively. This indicates that hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty can achieve effective removal of the septum in most cases. Adequate distension of the uterine cavity and loss of distension fluid through the cervix may influence the efficacy of septum removal and thus influence re-septoplasty rates. The influence of these factors, however, has not been investigated in the present study. Given that most series were published by public institutions with residency programs, these data also indicate that hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty may be considered an operation with a steep learning curve. This is consistent with our experience that this operation is easy to teach and easy to learn, especially with concomitant laparoscopy.

Another point of interest is whether or not a pre-operative therapy should be recommended prior to hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty. Preparation of the endometrium with various agents, including GnRH analogues, danazol, misoprostol, and PGE1 tablets, was used in 6/18 studies. This demonstrates that most surgeons do not find it necessary to use any form of pre-operative therapy. Furthermore, a recent randomized trial could not detect a benefit of 200 μg of sublingual misoprostol in women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy [33]. Also, the heterogeneity of the medications used does not allow to recommend a specific therapy.

It is of note that women undergoing hysteroscopic septoplasty are also at risk of uterine rupture in a subsequent pregnancy. Sentilhes et al. describe a total of 14 cases of uterine rupture after operative hysteroscopy in the literature [34]. Of these, 12 had a history of septoplasty. Although obviously a rare complication, patients should be made aware of this potentially serious late complication of hysteroscopic septoplasty.

Conclusions

In summary, we describe a retrospective cohort study and a pooled analysis of 18 studies on the safety and efficacy of hysteroscopic uterine septoplasty in women with septate uterus. We found that this procedure is safe and effective with a subsequent pregnancy rate of 69% and a LBR of 49%.