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What is a septate uterus?

A woman with a septate uterus has a normal shaped uterus with a wall of tissue creating two cavities. Some women may not even realize they have a septate uterus, even during pregnancy and childbirth.

A septate uterus may not require treatment unless there is recurrent pregnancy loss. Removing the wall may improve pregnancy rates.

Symptoms & Causes

What are the symptoms of septate uterus?

  • Unusual pain before or during a menstrual period
  • A tampon may not prevent menstrual blood from leaking out

What causes septate uterus?

A septate uterus forms during embryological development when the tubes that eventually become one uterus don't fuse together properly. The cause of this genetic abnormality is unknown.

Diagnosis & Treatments

How is a septate uterus diagnosed?

Usually, a septate uterus isn't diagnosed until a woman seeks help for pregnancy difficulties. A septate uterus can be confirmed with imaging technology, such as an ultrasound or an MRI.

How is septate uterus treated?

Surgery is not recommended in adolescence or in asymptomatic women. Doctors will be able to advise you on how to manage your pregnancy and prevent preterm delivery. In cases of recurrent pregnancy loss, surgery that can repair the division within the uterus and enable pregnancy.

Will a septate uterus affect sexual and reproductive life?

Having a septate uterus doesn't affect a woman's sexual pleasure or fertility. Women with a septate uterus can have a normal reproductive life, but it may add complications to pregnancy. There is a higher risk for miscarriage, premature labor, or breech presentation (when the baby's feet come out first), which usually requires a Caesarean section.

How we care for septate uterus

At the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Gynecology and Center for Congenital Anomalies of the Reproductive Tract, an interdisciplinary team of pediatricians, gynecologists, urogynecologists, and colorectal surgeons who will identity the best treatment plan for your daughter's septate uterus.