What exactly is a Uterine Septum??

I was pretty shocked when I found out that I had a septate uterus(SU- septate uterus is just another name for a uterine septum). My RE told me he didn't have any brochures/pamphlets that would help explain what mullerian anomalies (abnormally shaped uterus) were. So the web became my friend. I began to research what a septate uterus was and I didn't find much on the internet. The most valuable information for me was to read blogs from women that are going through this same situation. I wanted to explain a little bit about my birth defect.

Most of the following information is from another woman's blog (I put in my own info.) because I think she explains really well what a septate uterus is:

When I was in utero (in my mom's belly!), something went wrong, not drastically wrong, I was still born with all fingers and toes. The funny thing is, I wouldn't discover this until the age of 29 during an ultrasound. In every female, ducts termed Mullerian ducts are present. These ducts go through a transformative process during gestation (in utero) in order to form the reproductive tract and organs. There are several different types of Mullerian Anomalies, or differences of the uterus. Mullerian Anomalies are pretty rare and present in about 1-3% of women. My Mullerian ducts ended up not fusing together totally, which resulted in me being born with a septum in my uterus. A septum is best defined as a piece of tissue with no blood flow (avascular). Septate uteri have either a sub-septum which stretches across the inside of the top of the uterus and comes downward (fundus) or a complete septum which stretches across the top and then all the way down the middle of the uterus to the cervix, where the birth canal begins. Mine is a complete septum which measures 5 cm.

Septate uteri are associated with a very high miscarriage rate. The miscarriage rate is 80%-90%. This is because the fetus either implants on the septum and quickly miscarries early because there are no blood vessels to sustain the pregnancy. Or, due to intrauterine growth restriction meaning that the baby simply grows out of room to grow or the placenta attaches to the septum. Normally, the uterus stretches like a balloon. When a septum is present, think of a balloon being attached to a piece of cardboard. Because the septum is fibrous and not stretchy, that part of the uterus cannot stretch to accommodate the growing baby as a normal uterus stretches.

That is why I have decided to have surgery to remove the septum.

Chad & I were talking last night about how we are so excited about this surgery. I am nervous but the excitement has overcome the fear. This is the first big step and many more to follow.

For right now our "children" are our dogs, Sam and Jackson. We love them SO very much. Jackson is the black lab and Sam is a doberman mix. We rescued Sam from a shelter about 4 years ago. I am a big advocate of adopting animals from shelters. There are so many pets that are up for adoption. Chad & I will forever adopt our dogs from shelters:)