UTERINE SEPTUM ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

1. Uterine septum
ASRM guideline, 2016
Prof. Aboubakr Elnashar
Benha university Hospital, Egypt
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

2. Contents
I. Introduction
1.Development
2.Prevalence
3.Structure
4.Association
5.Classification
II. Guidelines
1.Evidence
2.Recommendations
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

3. I. INTRODUCTION
1. DEVELOPMENT
A uterine septum
failure of resorption of the tissue connecting the two
paramesonephric (mullerian) ducts prior to the 20th
embryonic w
Arcuate uterus
mildest form of resorption failure
not considered clinically relevant.
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4. 2. PREVALENCE
difficult to ascertain
{many uterine septum defects are asymptomatic:
1 to 2 per 1,000 to as high as 15 per 1,000
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5. 3. STRUCTURE:
Initially:
uterine septa were believed to be predominantly
fibrous tissue.
Biopsy specimens and MRI
primarily of muscle fibers and less connective tissue
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6. 4. ASSOCIATION:
Mullerian anomalies
with renal anomalies in11% to 30%
Uterine septum
No renal anomalies:
not necessary to evaluate the renal system in all
patients with a uterine septum.
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7. 5. CLASSIFICATION
Uterine anomalies were described in the 1800s by
Cruveilhier and Von Rokitan-Q1 sky.
Numerous classification
variability in diagnostic classifications:
higher/lower incidence of surgery performed to
correct these anomalies.
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8. 1.
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9. Normal/arcuate:
Depth from the interstitial line to the apex of the indentation < 1cm.
Angle of the indentation >90 degrees.
does not cause adverse clinical outcomes.
Septate:
Depth from the interstitial line to the apex of the indentation
>1.5 cm
Angle of the indentation <90 degrees.
Bicornuate:
External fundal indentation >1 cm.
Internal endometrial cavity is similar to a partial septate uterus.
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10. 2. ESHRE/ESGE CLASSIFICATION
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11. ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

12. ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

13. • Class U2:
internal indentation >50% of the uterine wall thickness
and external contour straight or with indentation
<50%,
• Class U3:
external indentation >50% of the uterine wall
thickness,
• Class U3b:
width of the fundal indentation at the midline >150% of the
uterine wall thickness). ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

14. GUIDELINES
1. QUALITY OF THE EVIDENCE
Level I:
Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed RCT
Level II:
Level II-1:
Evidence obtained from well-designed CT without
randomization.
Level II-2:
Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control
analytic studies
Level II-3:
Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without
the intervention.
Level III:
Opinions of respected authorities based on clinical experience,
descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.
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15. 2. STRENGTH OF THE EVIDENCE
Grade A:
There is good evidence to support the
recommendations, either for or against.
Grade B:
There is fair evidence to support the
recommendations, either for or against.
Grade C:
There is insufficient evidence to support the
recommendations, either for or against.
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16. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS
DIAGNOSIS OF SEPTATE UTERUS
There is fair evidence that
3-D ultrasound
sonohysterography, and
MRI are good diagnostic tests for distinguishing a
septate and bicornuate uterus when compared
with laparoscopy/ hysteroscopy. (Grade B)
Because these tests are less invasive, it is
recommended that imaging studies with or without
hysteroscopy should be used to diagnose uterine
septa rather than utilizing laparoscopy combined with
hysteroscopy.
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17. DOES A SEPTUM IMPACT FERTILITY?
Studies assessing the association between infertility
and uterine septum are comprised of principally small
descriptive studies (Level II-III) that have inconsistent
associations.
There is insufficient evidence to conclude that a
uterine septum is associated with infertility. (Grade C)
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18. DOES TREATING A SEPTUM IMPROVE FERTILITY
IN INFERTILE WOMEN?
There are no RCTs with untreated controls
assessing whether incision of uterine septum
improves fertility.
Several observational studies indicate that
hysteroscopic septum incision is associated with
improved clinical pregnancy rates in women with
infertility. (Grade C)
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19. DOES A SEPTUM CONTRIBUTE TO PREGNANCY
LOSS OR ADVERSE PREGNANCY OUTCOME?
Studies assessing the association between
pregnancy outcomes and uterine septum are
comprised of principally descriptive studies (Level II-III).
There are no RCTs with untreated controls to
address this Question
There is fair evidence that a uterine septum
contributes to miscarriage and preterm birth. (Grade B)
Some evidence suggests that a uterine septum may
increase the risk of other adverse pregnancy
outcomes such as malpresentation, intrauterine
growth restriction, placental abruption, and perinatal
mortality. (Grade B)
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20. DOES TREATING A SEPTUM IMPROVE
OBSTETRICAL OUTCOMES?
There are no RCTs with untreated controls
assessing whether uterine septum incision improves
pregnancy outcomes.
Few studies have assessed the effect of septum
incision on preterm birth, premature rupture of
membranes, and fetal demise.
Some limited studies indicate that hysteroscopic
septum incision is associated with a reduction in
subsequent miscarriage rates and improvement in
live-birth rates in patients with a history of recurrent
pregnancy loss. (Grade C)
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21. Some limited studies indicate that hysteroscopic
septum incision is associated with an improvement in
LBR in women with infertility or prior pregnancy loss.
(Grade C)
In a patient without infertility or prior pregnancy loss, it
may be reasonable to consider septum incision following
counseling regarding potential risks and benefits of the
procedure. (Grade C)
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22. ARE SEPTUM CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED
WITH WORSE REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES?
There is insufficient evidence to conclude that
obstetric outcomes are different when comparing the
length or width of uterine septa. (Grade C)
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23. SURGERY TO TREAT A UTERINE SEPTUM
There is insufficient evidence to recommend a
specific method for hysteroscopic septum incision.
(Grade C)
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24. HOW LONG AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENT OF A
UTERINE SEPTUM SHOULD AWOMANWAIT TO
CONCEIVE?
Although the available evidence suggests that the
uterine cavity is healed by 2 months postoperatively,
there is insufficient evidence to advocate a specific
length of time before a woman should conceive. (Grade
C)
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25. SHOULD PREOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT TO THIN
THE ENDOMETRIUM BE USED?
There is insufficient evidence for or against
recommending danazol or GnRH agonists to thin the
endometrium prior to hysteroscopic septum incision.
(Grade C)
ABOUBAKR ELNASHAR

26. IS ADHESION PREVENTION NEEDED?
There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or
against adhesion prevention treatment, or any
specific method.
(Grade C)
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Aboubakr Elnashar Lectures.
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