Learn more about common uterine abnormalities and how we treat them
Our Indianapolis fertility clinic supports many women with uterine abnormalities. These issues can either be present since birth or a woman can acquire them later in life. It’s important for women to receive high-quality treatment for these abnormalities. Otherwise, these problems can interfere with a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant and welcoming a baby.
Uterine abnormalities that are present from birth
A Mullerian anomaly is an abnormality of the uterus that a woman has had since birth. These issues occur when the uterus is first forming. There are a variety of congenital abnormalities.
Septate uterus. This type of abnormality consists of the uterus having a wall of tissue in its middle, which causes two cavities.
Bicornuate uterus. A bicornuate uterus is heart-shaped, instead of having a triangle shape, like a typical uterus.
Unicornuate uterus. This is a rare condition where only one half of the uterus forms. This type of uterus only has one fallopian tube and is smaller than a uterus that develops with two halves.
Uterine didelphys. If a woman has uterine didelphys, she has two uteruses. Like a unicornuate uterus, this condition is also rare.
There are many ways a specialist at our Indianapolis fertility clinic can help women overcome these challenges and become a mother.
Acquired types of uterine abnormalities
In some cases, a woman is born with a normal uterus and then develops abnormalities as she ages. There are three common types of acquired abnormalities of the uterus.
Endometrial polyps. These are small, noncancerous growths in the inner wall of the uterus that can cause irregular bleeding. The polyps develop from overgrowth of cells in the uterine lining.
Intrauterine adhesions. A woman has intrauterine adhesions if scar tissue builds up between the inner walls of the uterus. This tissue can cause the walls to bind.
Uterine fibroids. Fibroids are noncancerous, abnormal growths in or on the uterus that can become large and cause intense abdominal pain and heavy periods.
The doctors at our clinic can support women in receiving an accurate diagnosis for these types of uterine conditions.
Diagnosis and treatment for uterine challenges
As these uterine abnormalities can make it difficult to become pregnant, many women discover they have them when they receive a fertility evaluation. However, some women who experience symptoms of these conditions might seek treatment before they’re ready to have a baby.
The doctors at our Indianapolis fertility clinic can detect many abnormalities in the uterus during a pelvic exam or ultrasound. In some cases, the specialist will recommend a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), hysteroscopy or saline infused sonohysterogram (SIS). After making a diagnosis, the specialist can often treat the abnormalities with a minimally invasive procedure.
The team at our fertility center can help women overcome these barriers so that they can go on to have a healthy baby. Contact us for more information about abnormalities in the uterus.
