Pregnancy Forum - Heart Shaped Uterus

Pregnancy Forum > Pregnancy Forum > Heart Shaped Uterus

What happens during labor? What do contractions feel like? And how do I know that labor has begun? Read on to learn about birthing basics....

Q: Heart Shaped Uterus

asked by: musikmaker on March 26th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Well,I went to the doctor today and they think that I might have a heart shaped uterus. They acted all serious about it and were pretty tightlipped about it. They were talking outside of my door and the stuff they were saying didn't make me feel much better! I am having an ultrasound this friday to determine whether or not I have this.

Does anyone else have a heart shaped uterus? I can't quite figure out what the risks are. Why didn't they see it in my first ultrasound? Man, I am going insane!

Replies(8)

Tylanas

replied on March 26th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Re: Heart Shaped Uterus

musikmaker wrote:

My mother does!!! I might too, but I've never had an ultrasound.

My mother birthed two children with no problems at all. It is apparently genetic.

A heart shaped uterus is the lesser version of a fully bisected uterus, aka having two uteruses! One of my aunts on my mother's side has this condition, and she ended up having two healthy children a couple of years apart, one from the left uterus and one from the right! The other aunt was unfortunately infertile with both uteruses.

Kia

replied on March 27th, 2007

Moderator

Re: Heart Shaped Uterus

Eiri wrote:

It is apparently genetic.

Nope, it's congenital not genetic.

I had a uterus that developed "normal" on one side but not on the other and ended up with a uni-cornuate uterus with a connecting rudimentary horn.
had both sides developed I would have had a true didelphic uterus (quite rare).
There was even questions about whether I had 2 cervixes as well.

any questions you have hun, I'll be happy to answer - this is one of my intense knowledge subjects.
I've even transferred away from my local hospital, to a specialist one, because I know more about the subject than the gyns that work there.

First thing you need to know will be the degree of "heart shapedness" and an ultrasound is no use you need a HSG or HyCoSy.
all an us will show is the general outside shape.

well that could show it to be just slightly heartshaped whereas a HSG or HyCoSy will show if it is septate on the inside or not - some "heart shaped" uterus's are, some aren't and it's the septum inside (or not) that makes the difference.

if it is just slightly arctuate (heart shaped) then it's no biggie at all, if it has a minor septum, it's unlikely but possible to cause problems, it is has a greater degree of septum then there is more risk of problems.

the good news is most septum's are easily removed so long as there is complete fusion of both sides of the uterus.

musikmaker

replied on March 27th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Can it affect the pregnancy that I have now? I am 18.5 weeks along. The doctors seemed concerned.

There also concerned about the protein in my urine though so they could've been all serious about that. Anyways, I am peeing in a cup for the next 24 hours. Yeah, how fun!

Tylanas

replied on March 27th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Then why is it so common on my mother's side of the family? I think the doctors told her it was genetic. But you seem an expert on it so I won't refute ya!

Kia

replied on March 27th, 2007

Moderator

Eiri wrote:

Then why is it so common on my mother's side of the family? I think the doctors told her it was genetic. But you seem an expert on it so I won't refute ya!

maybe there is someting on your mothers side?

I'll re-phrase what I said Wink

normally, it isn't genetic but is congential

Kia

replied on March 27th, 2007

Moderator

Quote:

There also concerned about the protein in my urine though so they could've been all serious about that. Anyways, I am peeing in a cup for the next 24 hours. Yeah, how fun!

That I can't pass comment on because there are numerous things they get you to pee for during pregnancy.

musikmaker wrote:

Can it affect the pregnancy that I have now? I am 18.5 weeks along. The doctors seemed concerned.

that depends on the degree of of your uterine anomaly.

if you have a slight septum - again problems are likely to be minimal. The most common problem would typically be premature labor - as your doctors are aware that you have an anomaly with your uterus they should be prepared to deal with this.

the worse the degree of the septum (if you have a septum) the higher the risk of premature labor.

If you do not have a septum but have a dent (arctuate) or slight division of the top of the uterus, again problems are less likely with premature labour being the most common.

if the division is greater then the risk of premature labor becomes greater.

http://www.femme-health.com/gynae/uterus.h tml
(my page about uterus')

D: is a severe septum. (probable premature labor or possible IUGR, risk of problems is greater if the placenta attaches to the septum instead of the main uterus wall).
E: is a minor septum. (unlikely to cause problems but possible IUGR if the placenta attaches to the septum instead of the main wall of the uterus, due to decreased blood flow).
F: is an arctuate uterus. (unlikely to cause problems).

I now have a .G uterus
my pregnancy was like the one below the uterus diagrams.
unfortunately the side my baby developed in was the side that didn't grow (kind of like uterus .L only there was a connection betwewen the two parts unlike .L) this resulted in the rupture of that part of the uterus.

Do not be afraid because that situation is so exceptionally unlikely to the point that most gyn's have only ever read it in a book and have never seen one.
There are less than 50 cases like mine documented worldwide (at the time when I was actively researching).

If I can help or you have questions on this don't hesitate to ask.
If I don't know I can most likely find out.
But please get your doctors to talk to you about the degree of your anomaly.
Do be prepared for an early labor (if it doesn't happen bonus but be prepared) and ensure your midwife/hospital/birthing centre/etc are also aware that you do have an increased risk of early labor.

musikmaker

replied on March 27th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Thanks Kia! your so smart Smile

I am going to stop worrying about it and let my doctors worry. I should know more by Friday.

Btw, The urine is because they think that I am leaking too much protein in my urine. They are afraid that it is gallbladder or kidney related because I have been having some pain in my lower right back. Again though, I am not going to freak out I am just going to relax and enjoy the awesome weather that we are having.

Kia

replied on March 28th, 2007

Moderator

that's the smart thing to do.

I know it's hard not to worry, but that really is the best thing to do.
just post a note or drop me a pm if you want to ask anything Wink

good luck and put your feet up Cool

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc