Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Uterine Rupture?Risk FactorsWarning SignsComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Uterine Rupture?
Risk Factors
Warning Signs
Complications
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Uterine rupture is a rare but life-threatening event in which the layers of the uterus (womb) tear and break open into the abdominal cavity. It can happen in late pregnancy or during an attempted vaginal birth after a previouscesarean section(C-section), called aVBAC(vaginal birth after cesarean).
This article will cover the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of uterine rupture.
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Uterine rupture occurs when the full thickness of the uterine wall tears open into the abdominal cavity. This creates a deadly situation for both the fetus and the pregnant person. An emergency C-section is often performed in this situation.
Who’s Most at Risk for Uterine Rupture?
People who attempt a vaginal birth after C-section have the greatest risk of uterine rupture.C-section scarscan weaken the uterine wall so much that it can’t hold up against the pressure applied at the end of pregnancy, during labor, or during delivery.
The uterine scars that are most likely to rupture are:
Other risk factors for uterine rupture include:
Warning Signs of a Ruptured Uterus
Symptoms of an oncoming uterine rupture can include:
If any of these symptoms occur before labor and delivery, it’s crucial to get emergency care at a hospital that provides obstetric services (childbirth and maternal care) right away.
The person with a uterine rupture may experienceanemia(low iron due to lack of healthy red blood cells) from blood loss, and are at risk for infection or bladder injury, which may require ahysterectomyin severe cases.
Uterine rupture can also result in the death of the pregnant person and/or fetus, but it is rare.
How Is a Uterine Rupture Diagnosed?
Uterine rupture comes on suddenly. The diagnosis cannot be confirmed until a surgeon opens up the abdomen
Once a rupture is suspected, it’s a race against time, because the fetus will be without enough oxygen. One study showed that babies who were born in fewer than 20 minutes from the time of the rupture had the highest chance for survival.
If the uterus ruptures, the medical care team will immediately get the pregnant person into the surgery room to perform a C-section.
If the surgeon is unable to control the bleeding, they’ll need to perform a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a person’suterusthat may or may not involve the cervix.
Very rarely, a rupture can happen after a vaginal delivery. This would require an emergency laparotomy (opening the abdomen) to repair the uterus.
Further studies are needed to determine how to prevent a uterine rupture during pregnancy. One known way is for future deliveries to be performed via C-section if someone is at a higher risk for rupture based on a prior uterine surgery or because of the type of C-section they had.
In Case of a C-Section
Summary
Uterine rupture is a rare but scary occurrence. The risk increases with each additional uterine surgery (i.e., multiple C-sections or multiple fibroid surgeries called myomectomies).
If you experience sudden sharp pains, vaginal bleeding, or a lack of usual kicking, immediately seek emergency care at a hospital that provides obstetric services. Serious consequences to the pregnant person and fetus can be minimized if a rupture is detected quickly.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kan A.Classical cesarean section.Surg J (N Y). 2020;6(Suppl 2):S98-S103. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402072Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Forsén L, Stray-Pedersen B, Vangen S.Risk factors for complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017;216(2):165.e1-e165.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.10.017Abrar S, Abrar T, Sayyed E, Naqvi SA.Ruptured uterus: Frequency, risk factors and feto-maternal outcome: Current scenario in a low-resource setup.PLoS One. 2022;17(4):e0266062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266062Evensen A, Anderson JM, Fontaine P.Postpartum hemorrhage: prevention and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):442-449.Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Vangen S.Infant outcome after complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;219:109.e1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.04.010Egbe TO, Halle-Ekane GE, Tchente CN, Nyemb JE, Belley-Priso E.Management of uterine rupture: a case report and review of the literature.BMC Res Notes. 2016;9(1):492. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2295-9
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kan A.Classical cesarean section.Surg J (N Y). 2020;6(Suppl 2):S98-S103. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402072Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Forsén L, Stray-Pedersen B, Vangen S.Risk factors for complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017;216(2):165.e1-e165.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.10.017Abrar S, Abrar T, Sayyed E, Naqvi SA.Ruptured uterus: Frequency, risk factors and feto-maternal outcome: Current scenario in a low-resource setup.PLoS One. 2022;17(4):e0266062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266062Evensen A, Anderson JM, Fontaine P.Postpartum hemorrhage: prevention and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):442-449.Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Vangen S.Infant outcome after complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;219:109.e1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.04.010Egbe TO, Halle-Ekane GE, Tchente CN, Nyemb JE, Belley-Priso E.Management of uterine rupture: a case report and review of the literature.BMC Res Notes. 2016;9(1):492. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2295-9
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kan A.Classical cesarean section.Surg J (N Y). 2020;6(Suppl 2):S98-S103. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402072Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Forsén L, Stray-Pedersen B, Vangen S.Risk factors for complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017;216(2):165.e1-e165.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.10.017Abrar S, Abrar T, Sayyed E, Naqvi SA.Ruptured uterus: Frequency, risk factors and feto-maternal outcome: Current scenario in a low-resource setup.PLoS One. 2022;17(4):e0266062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266062Evensen A, Anderson JM, Fontaine P.Postpartum hemorrhage: prevention and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):442-449.Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Vangen S.Infant outcome after complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;219:109.e1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.04.010Egbe TO, Halle-Ekane GE, Tchente CN, Nyemb JE, Belley-Priso E.Management of uterine rupture: a case report and review of the literature.BMC Res Notes. 2016;9(1):492. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2295-9
Kan A.Classical cesarean section.Surg J (N Y). 2020;6(Suppl 2):S98-S103. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402072
Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Forsén L, Stray-Pedersen B, Vangen S.Risk factors for complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017;216(2):165.e1-e165.e8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.10.017
Abrar S, Abrar T, Sayyed E, Naqvi SA.Ruptured uterus: Frequency, risk factors and feto-maternal outcome: Current scenario in a low-resource setup.PLoS One. 2022;17(4):e0266062. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0266062
Evensen A, Anderson JM, Fontaine P.Postpartum hemorrhage: prevention and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(7):442-449.
Al-Zirqi I, Daltveit AK, Vangen S.Infant outcome after complete uterine rupture.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2018;219:109.e1-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.04.010
Egbe TO, Halle-Ekane GE, Tchente CN, Nyemb JE, Belley-Priso E.Management of uterine rupture: a case report and review of the literature.BMC Res Notes. 2016;9(1):492. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2295-9
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