Reproductive outcome in uterine malformations with or without an associated unilateral renal agenesis

Abstract

Objective: To analyze reproductive performance in women with genital malformations and to determine whether pregnancy outcomes are influenced by the asrenal agenesis (URA). Study design: This was a retrospective study of 174 patients with genitourinary malformations, with available images for reevaluation and classification and a history ofpregnancies. The main outcome measure was the reproductive performance depending on the type of uterine malformation and urinary tract anomalies. Results: The lowest percentage of women who had only live births occurred in women with bicornuate unicollis uterus (28%). Considering only uterine anomalies that might be associated with URA, those cases had significantly better perinatal outcomes (72% had only living children) than those with no renal agenesis (40%). Of the total number of pregnancies (n=355), patients with URA were associated with term deliveries and living children, whereas women with uterine malformation without URA were more associated with abortions, premature births, and breech presentation. Conclusion: Uterine malformations are associated with a high rate of abortions, preterm births, breech presentation, and reproductive losses, but reproductive performance is significantly better for a given type of uterine malformation if it is associated with URA; that is, if the Müllerian anomaly is the consequence of mesonephric or Wolffian anomaly. Different embryological origin for the uterine malformations (mesonephric versus isolated Müllerian anomalies), the absence of 1 renal artery, and previous extrauterine surgery could be related.