Ten-Year Piece of Retained Products of Conception: An Unusual Cause of Secondary Infertility

TL;DR

A woman experienced infertility for 10 years due to retained placental tissue after a pregnancy termination, highlighting a rare cause of secondary infertility.

Contribution

This case report highlights a rare long-term complication of retained products of conception following a D&C procedure.

Findings

A patient presented with secondary infertility after 10 years of retained placental tissue following a D&C.

Long-term RPOC can lead to infertility and requires proper diagnosis and treatment.

The case emphasizes the importance of considering RPOC in patients with unexplained infertility.

Abstract

Retained products of conception (RPOC) occur when the placenta does not properly separate from the uterine wall. The prevalence of RPOC varies between countries and the result of pregnancy, between vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery, and miscarriage or dilation and curettage (D&C). Overall, RPOC has a higher incidence in developed countries where practices tend toward earlier manual removal of the placenta instead of waiting for spontaneous delivery. Typically, retained products following delivery are symptomatic, causing hemorrhage or infection; however, RPOC related to pregnancy termination are most likely asymptomatic. This article describes a case in which a patient presented with 10 years of infertility following the termination of her first pregnancy with D&C. We aim to explore diagnostic modalities, treatment options, and possible complications of long-term RPOC.

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