Septate uterus in Vasco: what is hysteroscopic septum resection?
Medically reviewed by our consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (MBBS, MS OBG). Last reviewed: 4 November 2026.
Uterine septum surgery, or hysteroscopic septum resection, removes a band of tissue that splits the inside of the womb into two halves. A slim telescope enters through the cervix, so the septum itself is cut without a cut on the tummy, until the cavity is one open space. In Vasco it is done at Pai Hospital, Vaddem.
Many women first hear the words "septate uterus" after a miscarriage, or on a scan report taken while trying for a baby. The term sounds worrying, but it describes a shape the womb has had since before birth, and it can often be treated in a short operation. This guide by the Pai Hospital Team explains what a septum is, how it is confirmed, when removing it helps and when it is better left alone, and what the day of surgery and the months after look like. For a general introduction to the telescope used, see our page on hysteroscopy.
What is a septate uterus?
While a baby girl is growing in her mother's womb, her own uterus forms from two small tubes that join in the middle. The wall between them then melts away to leave a single cavity. If that wall stays behind, fully or in part, the womb is called septate. The outside looks normal; only the inside is divided.
- Partial septum: the wall hangs down from the top of the cavity part of the way.
- Complete septum: the wall runs all the way to the cervix, and sometimes there are two cervical openings or a wall in the vagina too.
- Arcuate uterus: only a gentle dip at the top. This is usually treated as a variation of normal and is not operated on.
The septum is one of a family of womb shape differences present from birth. A rarer one, where only one half of the womb develops, is explained in our guide to the unicornuate uterus and rudimentary horn.
How is a septum found and confirmed?
Most women have no symptoms at all. The septum is usually noticed during tests for miscarriage or for difficulty conceiving.
- 3D ultrasound: in this gynaecological setting, a 3D pelvic scan can show both the inner cavity and the outer outline of the womb in one picture. It is often the most useful first test.
- HSG: the dye X-ray of the womb and tubes may show a cavity shaped like a V or a Y. It cannot see the outside of the womb, so it raises the question rather than settling it. Read more about the HSG tube test.
- MRI: sometimes used when the scan pictures are not clear.
- Hysteroscopy with laparoscopy: the telescope shows the wall inside, while a keyhole camera checks that the top of the womb is smooth on the outside. Our page on diagnostic hysterolaparoscopy describes this combined look.
Septate or bicornuate: why the difference matters
A bicornuate womb has a deep notch on its outside, giving it a heart shape, and its two halves each have a full thickness of muscle. A septate womb is smooth outside, and the dividing wall is a thinner band. This matters because cutting through the dividing tissue from inside is suitable only for a septum. Trying the same on a bicornuate womb could go through the muscle wall, so the diagnosis is confirmed before any cutting is planned.
Why is a septum linked to miscarriage?
The septum is thought to have a poorer blood supply than the rest of the lining. If an embryo settles on it, the early placenta may not get the support it needs, and the pregnancy can be lost, often in the first three months. A septum can also limit the room for a growing baby later, which is linked to early labour and to the baby lying in an awkward position. Not every woman with a septum has these problems, and many carry pregnancies without trouble. A septum is only one possible reason among several, which is why it is looked at alongside the other tests in our guide to recurrent miscarriage and implantation failure.
When is septum resection advised, and when is it not?
Resection is usually discussed when a septum is confirmed and a woman has had:
- repeated miscarriages, or a loss in the middle months of pregnancy;
- a baby born too early, or a baby lying crosswise late in pregnancy;
- a long wait to conceive with no other cause found, before IVF, or after repeated failed embryo transfers.
It is usually not advised for an arcuate dip, and it may not be needed when a septum is found by chance in a woman who has no pregnancy problems. Studies, including a recent large trial, have not settled whether removing a septum raises the chance of a baby, even after miscarriage, so the decision is shared: your doctor explains what is known, what is not, and what fits your own history.
How is uterine septum surgery done through the hysteroscope?
The operation is done under anaesthesia, usually in the days just after a period when the lining is thin. A pregnancy test is checked that morning.
- The cervix is gently opened a little, and the hysteroscope is passed into the womb. The cavity is filled with fluid so the wall can be seen clearly.
- Fine scissors or a small electric loop, passed through the telescope, cut the septum from its lower tip upwards, in the middle of the band.
- The cutting stops when both tube openings can be seen together and the top of the cavity looks level with the rest of the lining. Going too deep into the muscle is avoided.
- A laparoscopy may be done in the same sitting to confirm the outer shape and to keep watch on the top of the womb while the cutting is done.
The tissue does not need to be removed, because it pulls back into the muscle as it is divided. The whole procedure usually takes about half an hour. You can read about the anaesthetic used in our guide to anaesthesia during gynaecological surgery.
Surgery at the Vaddem hospital in Vasco
Septum resection is planned and done at Pai Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco-da-Gama. Blood tests and the anaesthetist's check are arranged a few days before, and you come in fasting on the morning of the operation. Before you sign the consent form, the plan, including whether a laparoscopy will be added, is explained so that you know exactly what is being done.
What are the risks?
Problems are uncommon, but they can include bleeding, infection, a reaction to the anaesthetic, too much fluid being absorbed during the procedure, and rarely a small hole in the womb wall, which may need a laparoscopy to check. Very rarely, scar bands form inside the cavity afterwards. In a later pregnancy, a weak spot at the top of the womb is a rare concern, so your obstetrician should be told about the operation. A small leftover piece of septum is sometimes seen on a later scan; if it is small it usually needs nothing more.
Recovery after septum resection
- Light bleeding or a watery discharge for one to two weeks is common.
- Cramps like period pain settle in a day or two with the tablets advised.
- Most women go home the same day or the next morning, and return to light work within a couple of days.
- Avoid intercourse, tampons and swimming until the bleeding stops, or as your doctor advises.
- Sometimes a short course of hormone tablets is given to help the lining grow back over the cut area.
Please contact the hospital the same day if you have fever, foul-smelling discharge, heavy bleeding or pain that keeps getting worse.
When can you try to conceive after the surgery?
Many women are advised to wait for one or two periods so that the lining can heal over the area. A follow-up scan, or a quick telescope look, may be arranged to make sure the cavity is open and no scar bands have formed. After that, you can start trying naturally, or go ahead with the treatment already planned, such as IUI or IVF. If you are trying for a baby and tests have shown a septum, our page on female infertility explains how the other tests fit together.
Your questions
What is uterine septum surgery?
It is a short operation, called hysteroscopic septum resection, that cuts away a wall of tissue dividing the inside of the womb. A slim telescope passes through the vagina and cervix, so the septum is reached without a cut on the tummy; small keyhole cuts are needed only if a laparoscopy is added. The aim is to give the womb one open cavity before a pregnancy.
Is a septate uterus the same as a bicornuate uterus?
No. In a septate uterus the outside of the womb is a normal smooth shape and only the inside is divided by a wall. In a bicornuate uterus the womb itself is shaped like a heart, with a dip on the outside. A 3D scan, an MRI or a laparoscopy tells them apart, and only the septum is cut through the hysteroscope.
Does every septum need to be removed?
No. A small dip at the top of the cavity, called an arcuate uterus, is usually left alone. A septum found by chance in a woman who has no miscarriages and no difficulty conceiving may also be watched. Surgery is usually discussed after miscarriage, preterm birth or a long wait to conceive, and the choice is made with you.
Will I have a scar after septum resection?
No visible scar when the septum is cut through the hysteroscope alone, because the telescope enters through the natural opening of the cervix. If a laparoscopy is done in the same sitting to check the outside of the womb, there will be one or two very small cuts, usually at the navel and low on the tummy.
How soon can I try to conceive after the surgery?
Many women are advised to wait for one or two periods while the lining heals. Your doctor may arrange a short follow-up scan or a quick look inside the womb to check the cavity before you start trying. Your own timing depends on the size of the septum and on your fertility plan.
How long is the stay at the Vasco hospital?
Most women go home the same day or the next morning from Pai Hospital, Vaddem, once they are awake, eating, passing urine and comfortable. Light work is usually possible within a couple of days. You will be told what to expect before admission.
Or call +91 95459 20817 · +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.