Reproductive outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies detected by three-dimensional ultrasound screening

Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Dec;98(6):1099-103. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(01)01599-x.

Abstract

Objective: To determine reproductive outcomes in women with congenital uterine anomalies detected incidentally by three-dimensional ultrasound.

Methods: We studied 1089 women with no history of infertility or recurrent miscarriage who were seen for a transvaginal ultrasound scan. They were screened for uterine abnormalities using three-dimensional ultrasound. We determined prevalence of miscarriage and preterm labor in women with normal and abnormal uterine morphology.

Results: We found that 983 women had a normally shaped uterine cavity, 72 an arcuate, 29 a subseptate, and five a bicornuate uterus. Women with a subseptate uterus had a significantly higher proportion of first-trimester loss (Zeta = 4.68, P <.01) compared with women with a normal uterus. Women with an arcuate uterus had a significantly greater proportion of second-trimester loss (Zeta = 5.76, P <.01) and preterm labor (Zeta = 4.1, P <.01). There were no other significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between women with normal and abnormal uterine morphology.

Conclusion: This study shows the potential value of three-dimensional ultrasound and confirmed that women with congenital uterine anomalies were more likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes than women with a normal uterus.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Habitual / epidemiology*
  • Abortion, Habitual / etiology
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • London / epidemiology
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / epidemiology*
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal
  • Uterus / abnormalities*
  • Uterus / diagnostic imaging*