(603) 727 - 6216
Septate Uterus vs Bicornuate: Do You Still Have Chances of Getting Pregnant?

Brenda Albano

July 8, 2020

Septate Uterus Bicornuate Do You Still Have Chances of Getting Pregnant


Septate Uterus – A Genetic Physical Abnormality of the Uterus

Reproduction is the key to human life. Delivering an offspring successfully depends on women’s health and largely on uterus health, since the uterus is the organ where offspring is conceived. Miscarriages and stillbirths in women have been linked to a problem with the uterus, named as a septate uterus. Septate uterus does not typically affect a woman’s ability to conceive, but it does significantly increase their risk of a miscarriage. Women with septate uteri can also go on to have recurrent miscarriages.

The general rate of miscarriage is around 10 to 20 % in women who know they are pregnant. The estimated rate of miscarriage in women with septate uteri is thought to be between 20 and 25 %. Some research shows it may be as high as 40%. When it comes to a woman’s uterus, there are many conditions that affect their reproductive outcomes. Physical deformities are the root cause of these negative health outcomes in a lot of women. Having complete know-how of these sensitive conditions helps expecting women to deliver successfully. The most common of these conditions is the septate uterus, not to be confused with a tilted uterus.

Read on to know what causes a septate uterus, how common is a septate uterus, what is a septate uterus pregnancy, or how to get pregnant fast with a tilted uterus or a septate uterus. You can find most of the answers in the lines below.

What is a Septate Uterus?

Quite simply a septate uterus is when a woman’s uterus is divided into two by a tissue extending from the top down in the uterus. This tissue often divides the uterus into two different cavities.

The said tissue is called septum and the condition is often referred to as uterine septum, or septum uterine. This tissue called septum can extend partway down the uterus in a condition known as the partial septate uterus, or all the way down to the cervix at the bottom of the uterus, which is called a complete septate uterus.

This septate uterus can show symptoms like irregular painful periods sometimes and can also increase the risk of miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage. There are not many other symptoms reported in this condition.

Septate uterus is usually diagnosed through a pelvic exam. In most cases, the septate uterus is only diagnosed after a woman suffers from a series of miscarriages and the doctor performs a pelvic exam to rule out deformities. It is rare in other cases to get diagnosed with this condition.

What Causes a Septate Uterus

There are genetic anomalies called Müllerian Anomalies. These anomalies are the results of an embryologic phenomenon of the female reproductive tract. When a woman’s uterus is developing as a fetus, there are physical abnormalities that can occur due to defects in the elongation, fusion, canalization, or septal reabsorption of the Müllerian or paramesonephric ducts.

These abnormalities usually occur when the fetus is at about 9 weeks of gestation. The abnormalities do not occur in normal development and the fetus develops a healthy uterine cavity. But, in the case of incomplete or failed reabsorption of these ducts, an abnormal mass of tissue extends down the uterus dividing it into two sections. This condition is then called uterine septum or septum uterine as explained above.

Bicornuate vs Septate Uterus

It is important not to confuse bicornuate and septate Uterus. These are two completely different physical abnormalities affecting a woman’s uterus. When genetic development goes wrong, there are a number of physical defects that can occur.

If the tissue dividing the uterus (septum in the uterus) goes all the way down to the bottom of the uterus, it is called a septate uterus. On the other hand, when septum in the uterus goes only a little way down the uterus from the top, it is a bicornuate uterus. A bicornuate uterus is shaped more like “two horns” or in the shape of a heart.

In the septate uterus, a number of serious adverse outcomes can happen but in the case of a heart-shaped uterus i.e. bicornuate uterus, a woman usually can give birth safely.

How Common Is A Septate Uterus

Septate uterus is the most common type of Müllerian anomaly. This condition has been estimated to occur in 3 to 7 percent of the general women population.

What Is A Septate Uterus Pregnancy

It’s completely possible to get pregnant if you have these kinds of genetic abnormalities. Septate uterus pregnancy is quite common. A septate uterus does not affect the chances of you getting pregnant. The chance of getting pregnant in a woman with a septate uterus is pretty much similar to a woman with a normal uterus. However, this condition does affect pregnancy outcomes.

A woman with a septate uterus is more likely to suffer a miscarriage in a septate uterus pregnancy and in many cases a woman can have multiple miscarriages due to this condition (recurrent miscarriages). Chances of miscarriage are increased from a normal 10% to 20-25 % in the case of a septate uterus. This means that a woman with a septate uterus is likely to suffer from a miscarriage twice as likely as women with a normal uterus.

With physical abnormalities of the uterus, a woman is more likely to suffer from conditions like premature labor, breech positions, C-section (cesarean) delivery, and bleeding complications after delivery.

Septate uterus stillbirth is quite common also due to these complications. However, no definitive statistics regarding septate uterus stillbirth are available as of now.

Treatment for Septate Uterus

The only effective way of treating this condition is septate uterus surgery. This kind of surgery is commonly called a metroplasty. This type of surgery is often carried out using a hysteroscopy method. This type of treatment eliminates the need for an incision and prevents the need for major surgery.

During such a septate uterus surgery, an instrument is inserted into the vagina and the uterus through the cervix. Then another instrument is inserted that is used to cut down the extra septum tissue from the uterus. This technique is not invasive at all and can be performed within an hour at a doctor’s clinic. Women can return to their homes the same day after having the procedure done.

This surgery is associated with positive reproductive outcomes. Women with a history of miscarriages have reported normal deliveries in fifty to eighty percent of the cases after getting this procedure done. Women who had not been able to get pregnant due to septate uterus, report up to twenty percent increased chances of pregnancy.

If you suffer from a physical abnormality of the uterus and you’re wondering how to get pregnant fast with a tilted uterus (uterus tipped backward) or a septate uterus, you do not need to worry because these conditions do not affect your chances of getting pregnant. However, you can take supplements that can increase your fertility and otherwise strengthen your pregnancy.

Like This Post? SIGNUP TO OUR NEWSLETTER to get fresh and reliable content right in your inbox.



Related Posts

DHEA for Fertility Over 40 and 5 Ways to Improve Egg Quality

DHEA for Fertility Over 40 and 5 Ways to Improve Egg Quality

If you are over 40 and desire to improve your fertility then there are 3 things you’d like to know: How to Understand DHEA for Fertility over 40, How to Improve Egg Quality over 40 and what IS the Best DHEA supplement over 40 for fertility. If so, then Read On!

Answer to 7 [FAQs] Frequently Asked Questions about DHEA

Answer to 7 [FAQs] Frequently Asked Questions about DHEA

Dhea supplements may improve not just a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant, but also an individual’s general well-being. Learn more as we address the most frequently asked questions about Dhea supplements and how to get the results you want!