Gestational outcome following hysteroscopic lysis of adhesions

Abstract

Thirty-eight infertile women conceived 43 times following treatment for intrauterine adhesions (IUA). Adhesions were classified as being minimal in 7 women, moderate in 20 others, and extensive in 11. All women underwent hysteroscopy with division of all adhesions utilizing miniature scissors and high-dose estrogen treatment for 2 months. In addition 35 of the 38 women had either an intrauterine contraceptive device or a Foley catheter placed to prevent readherence of the walls, and 31 women had the uterine cavity investigated again prior to attempting a pregnancy. Prior to treatment for IUA only 16.7% of all pregnancies in those women with no other cause for pregnancy loss resulted in the delivery of a living infant. However, following treatment 87.2% of these pregnancies resulted in the delivery of a viable infant (P less than 0.001). No instances of placenta accreta occurred, and manual removal of the placenta was not required. Division of adhesions under hysteroscopic control together with the adjunctive measures utilized is superior to all other methods of therapy for IUA and should replace them.