Is there an association between septate uterus and endometriosis?
BACKGROUND
The question of whether Müllerian anomalies are significantly more often combined with endometriosis is a controversially discussed problem. Some publications described this association in patients with obstructive but not non-obstructive Müllerian anomalies or controls without Müllerian anomalies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of endometriosis in patients with a septate uterus as a non-obstructive form of Müllerian anomalies.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, we evaluated 120 patients (29.4 +/- 4.7 years; mean +/- SD) with a septate uterus. The control group consisted of 486 consecutive infertile patients (30.8 +/- 6.3 years) with a normal hysteroscopy and laparoscopy.


RESULTS
The incidence of dysmenorrhoea was comparable in both groups, but the incidence of endometriosis was significantly higher in patients with a septate uterus (25.8 versus 15.2%, P = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a higher incidence of endometriosis in patients with a septate uterus. If it can be confirmed by others, the initial finding of a septate uterus in infertile patients should be followed by a combined hysteroscopy and laparoscopy.
Nawroth
Frank
F
Endokrinologikum Hamburg, Centre for Hormone and Metabolic Diseases, Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endocrinology, University of Cologne, Germany. Frank.Nawroth@Endokrinologikum.com
Rahimi
Gohar
G
Nawroth
Claudia
C
Foth
Dolores
D
Ludwig
Michael
M
Schmidt
Torsten
T
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014599:Uterus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery