Histological Structure and Vascularity of Hysteroscopically Removed Uterine Septa in Patients With Primary Infertility and Patients With Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the histological structure and vascularity of uterine septa in patients with unexplained primary infertility and patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

DESIGN

Case-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Kasr Al Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

A total of 41 patients with uterine septa presenting with either unexplained primary infertility or RPL underwent 3-dimensional (3D) and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound to calculate the septum volume, septal vascularization index (VI), and myometrial VI. Hysteroscopically removed septa were examined histologically for myometrial and fibrous tissue content.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Septal characteristics differed between the primary infertility group (24 patients) and the RPL group (17 patients). Mean septal VI was significantly higher in the RPL group compared with the infertility group (18.39% ± 7.57% vs 11.67% ± 4.56%; p = .003), as was septal myometrial area (20.74% ± 5.97% vs 13.57% ± 5.55%; p < .001). In both groups, septal VI was strongly correlated with myometrial VI and myometrial content, but not with fibrous tissue content.

CONCLUSION

Uterine septa of patients with RPL are more vascularized and contain more muscular tissue compared with those of patients with primary unexplained infertility.