Predisposing factors and treatment outcome of different stages of intrauterine adhesions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predisposing factors and treatment outcomes of different stages of intrauterine adhesions.

METHODS

We examined the medical records of women with Asherman syndrome seen during the period of January 2000 to December 2007 at two McGill University teaching hospitals in Montreal. Data retrieved included patient's age, menstrual pattern, fertility, factors related to intrauterine adhesions, and rates of amenorrhea and pregnancy at 12-month follow-up. The diagnosis was established by hysteroscopic examination. After confirmation of the diagnosis, the intrauterine adhesions were removed using a standard technique with a loop electrode and glycine 1.5% as distension medium. In cases with severe intrauterine adhesions, abdominal ultrasound was used to ensure that the uterine cavity was not breached. At the completion of each procedure a number 16 Foley catheter with 5 mL of normal saline in the bulb was placed in the uterine cavity and removed five days later. In addition, vaginal estradiol 17 beta was administered three times daily for four weeks with oral progesterone administered in the fourth week of estradiol treatment.

RESULTS

Of 65 patients, we identified 24 with stage I intrauterine adhesions (36.9%), 30 with stage II (46.2%), and 11 with stage III (16.9%). The main reasons for referral were infertility (stage I 75%, stage II 73.3%, stage III 27.3%), and amenorrhea (stage I 25%, stage II 23.3%, stage III 72.7%). The main predisposing factor was dilatation and curettage. Of 40 patients with intrauterine adhesions related to early pregnancy curettage, 18 patients (45%) had stage I adhesions, 17 (42.5%) had stage II, and five (12.5%) had stage III. This contrasted with 10 patients who had peripartum curettage, in whom six (60%) developed stage III adhesions (P = 0.004). The rate of amenorrhea was 32.3% before adhesiolysis and 9.2% after. Among 43 women who wished to conceive, the pregnancy rate was 51.2% and the live birth rate 32.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The main reasons for referral of women with intrauterine adhesions are infertility and amenorrhea. Postpartum curettage leads to severe adhesions. The rates of pregnancy and term pregnancy among this selected group of women were similar regardless of the severity of adhesions.