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Asherman's Syndrome can cause infertility, repeated miscarriages and may even stop your periods, but most women have never heard of it.
Asherman's Syndrome is a condition where the uterine walls stick together. Symptoms include an absence of periods, very light periods, recurrent miscarriages or total infertility. What separates Asherman's from other syndromes is that it usually occurs after a D and C. Other causes include having a caesarean section, surgery to remove fibroids, using an IUD (as any device inserted into the uterus can cause damage), an abnormally shaped uterus or radiation treatments for cancer of the female reproductive organs. How is it diagnosed?A pelvic examination won't be of any use as there is usually nothing to see, but one will be performed to rule out other possibilities. Your doctor can either refer you for a hysteroscopy, which is a minor surgical procedure, or hysterosalpingogram (an X-ray of the uterus). If you're having a hysteroscopy, you will have a general anesthetic and a tiny camera will be put through your cervix or abdomen via a needle, which will then transmit pictures of your uterus. Doctors will then be able to see if you have scarring. If there is scarring either partially or completely filling the womb, you have Asherman's Syndrome. TreatmentsAsherman's Syndrome will only be treated if it has stopped your periods or if you are suffering from related infertility. Treatment is usually surgical. The scar tissue will be removed using a small instrument and a camera via hysteroscopy. The surgeon will then place a balloon into the uterus to hold it open. This allows it to heal. If it were closed, the adhesions would re-form. You may also be given oestrogen replacement therapy to aid the womb lining in its healing process. Up to 80% of infertile women will become pregnant after a surgical treatment. Risk Of TreatmentsBefore undergoing any treatment, it is important to understand both the risks and benefits. Risks of surgery include bleeding, perforation of the uterus (which would require additional surgery to fix), and pelvic infections. Occasionally, bleeding is severe and you may need a blood transfusion. In some cases, the surgery doesn't work and so would need to be repeated. For some women, even after they have had more than one surgery, they are still infertile. If this is the case, you need to look at other options such as adoption or surrogacy. Ways To Reduce The Risk of Getting Asherman's Syndrome
The copyright of the article Asherman's Syndrome in Infertility is owned by Joanna Karpasea-Jones. Permission to republish Asherman's Syndrome in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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