Intrauterine device or estrogen treatment after hysteroscopic uterine septum resection

Objective: To investigate the effects on adhesion formation and pregnancy maintenance of an intrauterine device (IUD) and/or estrogen treatment after hysteroscopic septum resection. Methods: After septum resection 100 women received either no treatment, or estrogens, or an IUD, or an IUD plus estrogens (n = 25 per group). Most were later checked hysteroscopically for uterine cavity adhesions. All pregnancies occurring during the study period were recorded. Results: Adhesions developed in 1 of 19 (5.3%) of the untreated women, 3 of 25 (12%) of the women treated with an IUD plus estrogens, 2 of 19 (10.5%) of the women treated with an IUD only, and none of the women treated with estrogens only. None of the differences, however, were significant. Regarding pregnancy, the differences between groups were also not significant. Conclusion: Neither IUD placement, nor estrogen treatment, nor both were found to prevent intrauterine adhesions or facilitate pregnancy after hysteroscopic uterine septum resection. (C) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.