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High Cholesterol And Pregnancy

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When you’re pregnant, making healthy choices benefits not only you but also your growing baby. Your cholesterol and triglycerides naturally rise during pregnancy, as they’re needed for the growth and development of the baby. Cholesterol is also needed to make the hormones estrogen and progesterone which play a key role during pregnancy. For women who already have high cholesterol, the levels can climb even higher which could lead to hypertension and risks. Conditions like high cholesterol, which can be treated with a variety of medications in nonpregnant women, can be more difficult to manage when you’re pregnant.

Checking your cholesterol and triglyceride levels during pregnancy is recommended as these also rise during pregnancy. In rare cases, women with very high triglycerides before pregnancy develop severely raised triglycerides. This puts you at risk of acute pancreatitis, an uncommon but serious complication that can cause severe abdominal pain and fatty spots on the skin (eruptive xanthoma).

What is high cholesterol during pregnancy?

Cholesterol increases significantly during pregnancy by about 25-50% and it can get extremely high during pregnancy. It is a type of fat that your body needs to function, but too much can clog your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is carefully monitored in the non-pregnant adult population, where its association with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease is well understood. The effects of maternal high cholesterol on pregnancy and on fetal development are not yet fully understood. However, a growing body of evidence from animal and human studies suggests adverse consequences of high cholesterol levels in pregnancy.

Cholesterol during pregnancy is needed for:

  • proper development of your baby
  • production and function of estrogen and progesterone
  • the development of healthy breast milk

How to treat high cholesterol during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your doctor probably won’t prescribe medication to lower your cholesterol, but if your levels stay high post-baby, you may be given medication and be told to follow a heart-smart diet. Eating a low-fat, low cholesterol diet during pregnancy is extremely important and emphasizes the benefits of the diet.

This might include:

  • increasing physical activity
  • eat more fiber
  • getting healthy fats like those derived from nuts and avocados
  • adding omega-3-rich foods or supplements to your diet
  • get healthy fats from nuts and avocado
  • avoid fried foods
  • limit sugar to lower triglycerides

Blood cholesterol tends to stay high for at least a month after giving birth and the same goes for Triglycerides but might go back to normal sooner in mothers who breastfeed. Wait at least six to eight weeks after giving birth before having a cholesterol test. If you are breastfeeding, wait until you’ve stopped.

In general, people with high cholesterol do not have a harder time getting pregnant than people of the same age without high cholesterol. However, there is one study that suggested it might take longer to get pregnant if a person has high cholesterol.

Disclaimer

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

References:

https://www.thebump.com/a/high-cholesterol-during-pregnancy

What is a Septate Uterus?

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Septate uterus is the most common congenital uterine malformation, affecting 1 percent of all women, which happens during fetal development before birth. A membrane called the septum divides the inner portion of the uterus, at its middle. This dividing septum is a fibrous and muscular band of tissue that can be thick or thin. 

It’s possible for a septate uterus to be misdiagnosed as a bicornuate uterus. A bicornuate uterus is one that is heart-shaped. In this condition, the top portion of the uterus, or fundus, dips in towards the midline of the uterus. This dip can range from shallow to deep. A bicornuate uterus does not typically affect a woman’s chances of successful pregnancies unless the dip is extreme. There are also rare cases of a bicornuate uterus and a septate uterus occurring together. 

How does a Septate Uterus affect pregnancy?

Women with a septate uterus can have a normal reproductive life, but it may add complications to pregnancy. The rate of miscarriage in the general population is around 10 to 20 percent in women who know they are pregnant. The estimated rate of miscarriage in women with septate uteri is thought to be between 20 to 25 percent. Some research shows it may be as high as forty percent.

A septate uterus is believed to be the most common type of abnormal uterine development. It’s estimated that over half of developmental problems of the uterus involve a septum.

Women with a septate uterus have an increased risk of both miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage. Pregnancies that occur within a uterus with any type of abnormal development increase the risk for:

  • Premature labor
  • Breech Positions 
  • C-Section Delivery 
  • Bleeding complications after delivery

What are the symptoms of septate uterus?

  • unusual pain before or during a menstrual period.
  • a tampon may not prevent menstrual blood from leaking out.

What causes septate uterus?

  • A septate uterus forms during embryological development when the tubes that eventually become one uterus don’t fuse together properly.
  • Septate uterus is a genetic abnormality.

Will a septate uterus affect sexual and reproductive life?

  • Having a septate uterus doesn’t affect a woman’s sexual pleasure or fertility.
  • Women with a septate uterus can have a normal reproductive life, but it may add complications to pregnancy. 

How is it diagnosed?

A septate uterus often remains undiagnosed until a woman experiences repeated miscarriage. At other times, the doctor may stumble upon it during a routine physical exam. This is because a septate uterus is often accompanied by similar malformations of the cervix and vagina. Typically referred to as a “double cervix” and “double vagina,” these are often the first clues of a similar abnormality in the uterus.

 A septate uterus may be seen on a standard 2-D pelvic ultrasound. An MRI can be a more accurate way to identify problems of the uterus. A definitive diagnosis may be required on a hysterosalpingogram (an X-ray procedure highlighting the uterus) and/or hysteroscopy (a visual examination using a lighted scope). Even with these examinations, a septate uterus can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a bicornuate uterus, also known as a “heart-shaped uterus.” While the malformation is by no means considered normal, it does not typically increase the risk of miscarriage.

Treatment

A septate uterus is treated with surgery, most commonly by removing the septum during a hysteroscopy. This is a fairly minor procedure usually performed on an outpatient basis. The surgery, called metroplasty, is minimally invasive and involves the insertion of a medical device through the cervix and into the uterus to cut away excess tissue. This can usually be performed in between 30 and 60 minutes. Antibiotics and estrogen may be prescribed afterward to prevent infection and aid in healing. Hysteroscopic metroplasty can improve chances of a successful pregnancy in women with recurrent pregnancy by 53.5 percent, according to a comprehensive analysis of 29 studies conducted from 1986 to 2011.

It is unnecessary for women with septate uteri who have no intention of getting pregnant. On its own, a septate uterus poses no risk for cancer.

Disclaimer

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Resources:

https://www.webmd.com/baby/septate-uterus

https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/septate-uterus#:~:text=A%20woman%20with%20a%20septate,there%20is%20recurrent%20pregnancy%20loss.

https://www.healthline.com/health/septate-uterus#septate-uterus-and-pregnancy