2 Miscarriages - Subseptate uterus

Hi,

I just joined belly baby today and thought I would share my story. My DH and were ttc for 4 months the first time we conceived which is in nov 07 but miscarried at 5 1/2 weeks. We were told we could start trying again after my next cycle. So we did and didn't conceive until June 08 but again miscarried at 5 1/2 weeks. I was told this was normal but didn't want to believe it. I pushed for test to be done and finally got my referral after being diagnosed with a bicorunate uterus.

So I made an appointment with Sydney IVF as they also do miscarriage management. My first appointment again I was told miscarriages are normal which doesn't help. Anyway the doc sent me for ultrasounds and blood tests.

All my blood test came back normal besides one for blood clotting and that was a low positive which they doc said is okay and wouldn't be the reason for my miscarriages. However my ultrasound showed that I had a subseptate uterus.

So the doc booked me in for surgery two days later and I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy to remove the septum. I was told my tubes & ovaries were normal and that my uterus wasn't bicorunate. They removed the septum and now I am just about finished the recovery stage.

I am due for a follow up appointment on Wednesday as I am waiting on a few more results from some chromosome blood tests.

Just wondering if anybody else has had septum removed after miscarriages and gone onto having a successful pregnancy? Need a bit of hope as I scared of having another miscarriage.

Hi there Tam
I don't have any advice for you, hopefully some of the other lovely ladies here will, but just wanted to wish you all the best on your ttc journey and hope all turns out well for you!
Take care
xx

Hi and welcome to Belly Belly.

I don't have a subseptate uterus, but I read up a bit about the physiology of the uterus when I found out that I have a retroverted uterus. From what I read, the subseptate uterus is when the two tubes that form the uterus as an embryo do not completely fuse and there is a section of "wall" (the septum) that remains and causes the heart-shape that is usually described for the subseptate uterus.

The length and size of the septum can vary greatly and usually the bigger it is the more problems it can cause. A septum can be so small that it causes no problems at all. A bigger septum can cause problems though. If the baby implants on a septum it unfortunately usually miscarries. If the septum is quite large it can cause premature labour because the uterus cannot stretch as much as usual. And the baby can often be breech because it can't turn as easily.

If you recently had your septum removed I would assume that it was big enough that the doctor thought that it might cause problems for you either conceiving, or carrying to full term. I'm not really sure whether the removal of the septum means that there should now be no problems associated with your subseptate uterus, but I really really hope so :)

I'm very sorry about your losses and I hope that you heal really quickly and that your continued TTC journey is a short one. Good luck!!! :hug:

Hi Tam

I am so sorry for your losses :hug: I am in a similar situation to you, however my hubbie and I are not actively TTC yet. I found out by accident that I have either a Bicornuate Uterus or a Septate Uterus (ultrasounds for other reasons) as well as one kidney - apparently this can go hand-in-hand.

I am leaving the laparoscopy and hysteroscopy until next year as my Gyn wants me to be ready to start TTC immediately afterwards. I think this due to the fact that if its a septum and it is removed (which is pretty likely according to my gyn), it can grow back within 12 months or so.

I too would also love to hear any success stories after having a septum removed. It is constantly on my mind and get upset at times thinking that I will not be able to conceive and be a mother :(

It is nice to hear that I am not the only one on this planet that is like me - somedays I feel like a bit of a congenital weirdo!! :lol:

Thanks

Trina :)

I'm very sorry for your loss...

I to have a subseptate uterus the septum almost divides my uterus in half, I have already had a sucessful pregnancy and she stayed in there for 41 weeks :-)

I havent had the septum removed, apparetly DD just pushed it over...

Good luck with ttcing hope it happens for you soon!

Sorry just joined don't know what I'm doing haha

Hi Tam

I have also had 2 miscarriages due to having a supseptate uteris, I lost both my babys at 12 weeks, the first on 2nd february 2008 and then again on june 3rd 2008.
I also got told it was normal and to keep trying but I knew deep down something wasn't right so I went to a private gynie and all it took was a scan for them to tell me I had a supseptate uteris, when I had already had 2 scans in my pregnancy's but they never picked it up.
I had the operation to remove the septum 5 weeks ago so within the next few days I can try again but yes I'm very scared of haveing another loss but it's worth a try I just really hope that it all works out.
It get's hard mentally that's for sure especially when people who havn't experienced miscarriage at all tell you that it was for the best there was probably something wrong with it and it's mother nature takieing it's course, you'll get over it and all this stuff they have no idea about and it's them people that make the whole experience so much worse just by talking sh...t! I wish people would keep there comments to themselves unless they know what they're talking about.

I really hope things work out for you!

I am so sorry for all of the losses of beautiful angel babies.

But I wanted to post to say that there is hope :)

I have a septate uterus, it was discovered at my first scan, when I was about 7-8 weeks, it looked like there were two sacks, but DD had implanted on the wall of the uterus, not part of the septate, so we were pretty right and my OB had said that it would stretch during pregnancy.

I also had an amniotic band, but it was far enough away from the edge that DD's legs could kinda hung over it, I even have 3D scan pictures showing this :)

One of the more common, risks is also preterm labour, for me that did occur at 33 weeks, and due to a fast progression of labour it was not able to be stopped so I delivered, but am very lucky to have a healthy bub.

I will probably make an appointment with my OB prior to TTC'ing again to see how the uterus has contracted and see what it looks like, and go through the risks.

I doubt we would consider removing the septate unless we encounter problems with future pregnancies.

HTH
xxoo

Hi Ladies,

I would really like to know if any of you have been successful after the operation to remove the septate?...

I had just had my second m/c and they luckily discovered the subseptate condition of my uterus although it still needs to be confirmed.

Please let me know any success stories if you feel up to sharing as it would help me to know there is hope out there.....

Thank-you XOX

Hey there,

Just thought I'd add my experience so far... I had a miscarriage (1st pregnancy) in June this year that wasn't picked up until the 12 week scan (no heartbeat, 8 week size), and at the same time they said my uterus had a 'subseptate appearance'.

When I went to have the D&C a doctor there advised me to see a particular specialist about the septum as she said there was a 80-90% chance of miscarriage with this condition! My GP sent me for a referral but she was not keen on the idea of surgery much. But I was convinced that was what I should do after reading up online. Then when I saw one of the specialists, he said some people get it done, some people don't, miscarriages are very common anyway..blah blah. Totally not what I was expecting to hear. Anyway, I got put on a waiting list in July, as I didn't have private health insurance, just to have the hysteroscopy and then it would only be from there that he would know whether surgery was necessary or not.

So basically after the consultation with this doctor I decided while I was on a 4-6 month(!) waiting list, I would just 'see what happens' in the meantime... The doctor didn't have a problem with that.

So here I am, 8 weeks pregnant again and hoping for good news but obviously just taking one day at a time. Fully aware it could end the same way, but then again it might not, and if I waited all that time on the waiting list (in the grand scheme of things not really that long I know!) only to find out surgery wasn't even needed...!? My GP this time didn't seem too worried either.

Reading stories of successful pregnancies with septums has been encouraging!

I have a scan in a couple of days to see if I've at least got further than I did last time, trying not to get excited, just fingers crossed...

Best wishes to you all here,

H.x

H,

Thank you for sharing your experiences and your reply. I've had 2 m/c this year and they recently discovered the septate on an u/s. I'm booked in for testing soon, but like you, on waiting lists... (how frustrating.) I too will be looking into surgery as the results are so positive after, but will also be trying again while on the waiting list for that!

Fingers crossed for you XOX please let me know how you go, sending you plenty of baby dust, .....~\_(^_^)_/~.....

Summer X

P.S. If any other ladies have updated info on their experiences please share... it seems noone writes back after they have the op..... hopefully that means all went well after??....

Thanks Summer for your kind wishes,

All was 'normal' at the scan this week, measured 8 weeks and 167 heart rate, so couldn't have got any better news really. Just have to be patient now for the next month before the next scan. Trying not to stress but not getting too excited either as it just doesn't seem real yet. Probably won't seem real for a long time!

I think some of the other girls in this thread have written their updates in other threads, so you could try looking at 'all posts by' whoever you're wondering about?

Helen.x

Hey, just an update... I requested another scan before my NT one next week, as I got myself in a bit of state worrying that the same thing would happen as last time and wanted to know before Christmas!

So I had a scan last week and turned out to be 11 weeks, a few days more that I expected so that was good. When I asked about the septum this time she said she couldn't even see it! She hunted around and found the 'bump' eventually, but it was obviously just stretching out. So the only way I've found out about this septum is because last time I had the miscarriage the baby was only 8 weeks when it should have been 12 weeks, and then it was visible in the 8 week scan this time too. But if i'd only ever had a successful 11/12 week one I'd never know!

Anyway, fingers crossed NT scan next week is normal too. Just starting to let myself get a little bit excited that this is real! So glad I didn't wait for the operation now!

Happy New Year to anyone that's reading! :dance:

Helen.x

Fabulous news Helen :D

I hope all goes well with your next scan and you can site back and enjoy the wonderful pregnancy journey you have ahead of you, a lovely Christmas/New Years Present :D
Take care
xxoo

Helen,

Thats fabulous news! I hope everything is continuing to go well for you XOX
(Sorry I haven't been on here for a while hence the late reply.)

In case any one else finds themselves in a similar situation, I thought I'd share my progress.

At m/c #2 they suspected I had the subseptate uterus, but when I finally got into my gyny visit, who then referred me for a 3D ultra sound, they confirmed I have an accurate uterus which is in fact a slight variation of the norm, but still what they call normal. Apparently it can appear to be subseptate on the 2D scan but a 3D scan can confirm this officially.

So, I'm all good to go, and considering how my tummy has completely popped out in a ridiculous way I have a very strong hunch I'm 3 weeks pregnant. (I usually have a very flat tummy)

So 3rd time lucky, wish me luck and baby dust.....

Summer XOX

Great news Summer! I wonder if mine will turn out to be a simliar variation?

I finally got a date in March for my hysteroscopy that I was on a waiting list for, but obviously had to cancel and i'll just see what happens later on. I'm 17 weeks now and all good so far... But such a long way to go! Still a bit nervous now and then and can't wait for a proper bump and the 'fluttering' to be a definite kick!

Wishing you lots of luck and baby dust!

xx

Helen - You've hit the 17 week mark - well done! I bet you can't wait to feel some definite kicks... although once you feel them you may decide otherwise..... still, having an active baby must be very reassuring.

Rereading what you posted previously, I had a similar thing with my GP. I don't really have a regular GP, but the last one I saw told me to wait 6 months before even trying for another baby.... 6 MONTHS,
a) it was definitely a MALE GP, and
b)does he have no idea??? Telling a woman who desperately wants a baby to wait 6 months?....

However, the specialist I saw was great and had no problems doing the operation if I had required it. Hopefully all goes well this time round, but if not I'll just go back to my specialist, but hopefully I wont have another 2 month wait (I was lucky with even that!!)

FYI - My belly is like a little balloon! This is unbelievable for only 3+ weeks. I swear I look about 15 weeks preggers, but no0one is seeming to notice, crazy how in tune you are with your own body, especially about a bump, but noone else seems to notice...

I just thought I'd give an update, and mcHelen, I'm wondering how you are going??

I am now 11 weeks 5 days pregnant, so yes, it is posible to know and 3 weeks, and yes, it is possible for your stomache to pop out! Luckily, since then, I haven't really gotten a whole lot bigger. Usually a bit smaller in the morning, then popped out in the afternoon, but not really huge or anything yet.

From 5 weeks I went to a Fertility clinic and they monitored my progesterone and HCG levels, this was very reassuring to have results twice per week to confirm all was ok. They also sent me for several early ultra sounds which were all very positive and we heard baby's heartbeat - so cool.

I was very thankful for this specialized care and they also recommended me a new specialist fertility/pregnancy GP and he is excellent! So happy to be in good care. :-)

Good luck to everyone out there, and follow your heart and do what you think it best. XOX