Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 9, 2005-2007,
September 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Intrauterine haematomas in a recurrent miscarriage population
Department of Reproductive Science and Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine at St Mary's Hospital, Mint Wing, South Wharf Road, London W2 INY, UK
BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of intrauterine haematomas (IUH) discovered during early pregnancy ultrasound scanning in patients with recurrent miscarriage. Previous studies of IUHs have reported conflicting findings, and none studied women with recurrent miscarriage. METHODS: A total of 341 women with a viable pregnancy was included. Women with an IUH (n = 41) were compared with those without (n = 300). RESULTS: An IUH was identified by ultrasound in 12% (41/341) women. There were no differences in the number of live births between the two groups (25/41, 61% in the IUH group compared with 169/300, 56% without an IUH) or the number of miscarriages (6/41, 15% with an IUH compared with 72/300, 24% without an IUH). Anti-phospholipid antibodies were more common in the IUH group (21/31, 68% compared with 103/244, 42% P < 0.01). More women with haematomas experienced vaginal bleeding (16/31, 52% compared with 47/244, 19%, P < 0.01). These associations did not affect pregnancy outcome. Also, no increase in the rate of pregnancy complications was observed in the IUH group. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an IUH in this potentially high risk patient group does not have a deleterious effect on pregnancy outcome.
Key words: intrauterine haematoma/pregnancy/recurrent miscarriage/ultrasound
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