A septum is a thick or thin fibrous or muscular band of tissue. The meaning of septate uterus is the presence of such septum inside the uterus dividing the inner cavity of the uterus; and it is present in some women since birth.
Women with a septate uterus are at an increased risk of miscarriage. Because if pregnancy implants near the septum; it can not get the proper support for growth.
Septate uterus can be effectively treated with hysteroscopic surgery.
There are no known causes of septate uterus ;but it is said to be a genetic abnormality.
It happens when a female baby is developing inside the mother. All uteri begin development as two tubes which eventually fuse and become one uterus at the midline. Whenever there is a failure of fusion of these tubes; a septum develops making a septate uterus.
Septate uterus can be divided into three types:
Women with septate uterus can have a normal and healthy full term pregnancies but it may add complications in pregnancy. These include:
Apart from miscarriage or recurrent miscarriges; there are no symptoms of a septate uterus. It is usually diagnosed when a infertility work up is being done or an incidental finding on ultrasound.
Treatment typically involves surgical correction to remove the septum and may include the following procedures:
If a woman does not wish to have children, there is no need to undergo treatment for a septate uterus as it does not pose a health risk. However, if a woman with a septate uterus would like to have children, then she may choose to have surgery. Surgery will significantly increase chances of a successful pregnancy.
The treatment of a septate uterus is surgery called hysteroscopic septal resection or hysteroscopic metroplasty.
Hysteroscopic septoplasty involves using a hysteroscope to see the septum and then cut it with a very tiny pair of hysteroscopic instruments . A very thick and fibrous septum my warrant the use of current given by high frequency elecrosurgical generators ; best for the safety of the patient.