Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (969 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A complete separation or tear in the wall of the uterus with or without expulsion of the fetus. It may be due to injuries, multiple pregnancies, large fetus, previous scarring, or obstruction.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ruptures, Uterine; Rupture, Uterine; Uterine Ruptures.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Uterine Diseases; Obstetric Labor Complications; Rupture
- Narrower topics
- Uterine Perforation
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 5,285 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Uterine Rupture” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 522 of them (9.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 2,843 records.
Reviews account for 440 records (8.3%) and meta-analyses for 41. Randomized controlled trials number 41 (0.8%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,843 |
| 2000-2009 | 901 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,019 |
| 2020 onward | 522 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 440 | 8.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 41 | 0.8% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 41 | 0.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Uterine Rupture"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in kidney, urology and women's health
Kidney, urinary and reproductive health research uses lab markers (such as creatinine), imaging, symptom scores and registry data on pregnancy and birth. Findings about pregnancy are especially sensitive to who was studied and when in pregnancy exposure occurred. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment, fertility or pregnancy; speak to a qualified clinician. Check the population, the outcome measured and whether the study accounted for other health differences between groups.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spontaneous uterine perforation due to pyometra presenting as acute abdomen | 2006 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 34 | cc by PMID 17485806 · DOI · PMC1581470 |
| Pregnancy outcomes and associated factors for uterine rupture: an 8 years population-based retrospective study | 2022 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 33 | cc by PMID 35105342 · DOI · PMC8805328 |
| Symptomatic Uterine Rupture: A Fifteen Year Review | 2020 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 28 | cc by PMID 33138157 · DOI · PMC7693983 |
| Risk factors for pregnancy-related uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis | 2025 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 41054050 · DOI · PMC12499802 |
Spontaneous uterine perforation due to pyometra presenting as acute abdomen [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Spontaneous perforation of the uterus is rare, its incidence being about 0.
- Closing excerpt
- Although spontaneously perforated pyometra is rare, a perforated pyometra should therefore also be considered when elderly women present with acute abdominal pain.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (132 words)
Spontaneous perforation of the uterus is rare, its incidence being about 0.01%-0.05%. We report a rare case of diffuse peritonitis caused by spontaneously perforated pyometra. A 63-year-old woman with severe abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. Laparotomy was performed because of the suspicion of gastrointestinal perforation with generalized peritonitis. At laparotomy, about 900 mL of pus was found in the peritoneal cavity. There were no abnormal findings in the alimentary tract, liver, or gallbladder. A total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Pathological investigation of the surgical specimen revealed endometritis and myometritis of the uterus; but there was no evidence of malignancy, and the cervical canal was patent. Although spontaneously perforated pyometra is rare, a perforated pyometra should therefore also be considered when elderly women present with acute abdominal pain.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 17485806 · DOI · PMC1581470
Pregnancy outcomes and associated factors for uterine rupture: an 8 years population-based retrospective study [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundUterine rupture is an obstetrical emergency with serious undesired complications for laboring mothers resulting in fatal maternal and neonatal outcomes.
- Closing excerpt
- Further improvements in obstetric care and enhanced collaboration with referring health facilities were needed to ensure maternal and perinatal safety.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (238 words)
BackgroundUterine rupture is an obstetrical emergency with serious undesired complications for laboring mothers resulting in fatal maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of uterine rupture, its association with previous uterine surgery and vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC), and the maternal and perinatal implications.MethodsThis is a population-based retrospective study. All pregnant women treated for ruptured uterus in one center between 2013 and 2020 were included. Their information retrieved from the medical records department were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsA total of 209,112 deliveries were included and 41 cases of uterine rupture were identified. The incidence of uterine rupture was 1.96/10000 births. Among the 41 cases, 16 (39.0%) had maternal and fetal complications. There were no maternal deaths secondary to uterine rupture, while perinatal fatality related to uterine rupture was 7.3%. Among all cases, 38 (92.7%) were scarred uterus and 3 (7.3%) were unscarred uterus. The most common cause of uterine rupture was previous cesarean section, while cases with a history of laparoscopic myomectomy were more likely to have serious adverse outcomes, such as fetal death. 24 (59.0%) of the ruptures occurred in anterior lower uterine segment. Changes in Fetal heart rate monitoring were the most reliable signs for rupture.ConclusionsIncidence of uterine rupture in the study area, Shanghai, China was consistent with developed countries. Further improvements in obstetric care and enhanced collaboration with referring health facilities were needed to ensure maternal and perinatal safety.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 35105342 · DOI · PMC8805328
Symptomatic Uterine Rupture: A Fifteen Year Review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and objectives: To assess the incidence of complete and partial uterine rupture during childbirth in a single tertiary referral centre as well as the significant risk factors, symptoms and peripartum complications.
- Closing excerpt
- Acute abdominal pain in labour is the most frequent symptom for uterine rupture.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (418 words)
Background and objectives: To assess the incidence of complete and partial uterine rupture during childbirth in a single tertiary referral centre as well as the significant risk factors, symptoms and peripartum complications. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single-centre study involved all cases of uterine rupture at the Kaunas Perinatal Centre in 2004-2019. Data were from a local medical database complemented with written information from medical records. We included 45,893 women with an intact uterus and 5630 with uterine scars. Women (n = 5626) with scarred uterus' after previous cesarean delivery. The diagnosis was defined by clinical symptoms, leading to an emergency cesarean delivery, when complete or partial uterine rupture (n = 35) was confirmed. Asymptomatic cases, when uterine rupture was found at elective cesarean section (n = 3), were excluded. The control group is represented by all births delivered in our department during the study period (n = 51,525). The outcome was complete (tearing of all uterine wall layers, including serosa and membranes) and partial uterine rupture (uterine muscle defect but intact serosa), common uterine rupture symptoms. Risk factors were parameters related to pregnancy and labour. Results: 51,525 deliveries occurred in Kaunas Perinatal Centre during the 15 years of the study period. A total number of 35 (0.06%) symptomatic uterine ruptures were recorded: 22 complete and 13 partial, leading to an incidence rate of 6.8 per 10,000 deliveries. The uterine rupture incidence rate after a single previous cesarean delivery is 44.4 per 10,000 births. 29 (83%) cases had a uterine scar after previous cesarean, 4 (11%) had a previous laparoscopic myomectomy, 2 (6%) had an unscarred uterus. The most significant risk factors of uterine rupture include uterine scarring and augmentation or epidural anaesthesia in patients with a uterine scar after cesarean delivery. The most common clinical sign was acute abdominal pain in labour 18 (51%). No maternal, six intrapartum perinatal deaths (17%) occurred, and one hysterectomy (2.8%) was performed due to uterine rupture. Neonatal mortality reached 22% among the complete ruptures. Average blood loss was 1415 mL, 4 (11%) patients required blood transfusion. Conclusions: The incidence rate of uterine rupture (complete and incomplete) at Kaunas Perinatal Centre is 6.8 per 10,000 deliveries. In cases with a scar of the uterus after a single cesarean, the incidence of uterine rupture is higher, exceeding 44 cases per 10,000 births. The most significant risk factors were uterine scar and augmentation or epidural anaesthesia in a previous cesarean delivery. Acute abdominal pain in labour is the most frequent symptom for uterine rupture.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33138157 · DOI · PMC7693983
Risk factors for pregnancy-related uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundTo systematically evaluate risk factors associated with pregnancy-related uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and provide evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making.
- Closing excerpt
- Careful preoperative risk assessment, optimization of suturing techniques, and enhanced pregnancy monitoring are recommended to mitigate risk.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (181 words)
BackgroundTo systematically evaluate risk factors associated with pregnancy-related uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and provide evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and other databases was conducted to identify observational studies published up to March 31, 2025. Relevant data on risk factors for post-LM uterine rupture during pregnancy were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.ResultsEleven high-quality studies encompassing 188,769 patients were included. Meta-analysis revealed that larger fibroid size (MD = 0.54; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.29-0.79), elevated prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) (MD = 2.93; 95% CI: 2.20-3.66), earlier gestational age (MD=-3.01; 95% CI: -4.94 to -1.08), history of pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.82-4.37), scarred uterus (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.04-5.97), and prior uterine surgery (OR = 7.05; 95% CI: 2.43-20.40) were significantly associated with increased risk of uterine rupture (all P ConclusionPregnancy-related uterine rupture after LM is associated with multiple factors, including fibroid size, elevated BMI, and placental abnormalities. Careful preoperative risk assessment, optimization of suturing techniques, and enhanced pregnancy monitoring are recommended to mitigate risk.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41054050 · DOI · PMC12499802
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Outcome of Cesarean scar pregnancy managed expectantly: systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article WHO systematic review of maternal mortality and morbidity: the prevalence of uterine rupture [6]
- Research article Systematic review of the incidence and consequences of uterine rupture in women with previous caesarean section [7]
- Research article Facility-based treatment for medical complications resulting from unsafe pregnancy termination in the developing world, 2012: a review of evidence from 26 countries [8]
- Research article Risk factors for uterine rupture after laparoscopic myomectomy [9]
- Research article Intrapartum rupture of the unscarred uterus [10]
References
- Geranpayeh L, Fadaei-Araghi M, Shakiba B. Spontaneous uterine perforation due to pyometra presenting as acute abdomen. . 2006. PMID 17485806 · DOI · PMC1581470
- Wan S, Yang M, Pei J, Zhao X, Zhou C, Wu Y, et al.. Pregnancy outcomes and associated factors for uterine rupture: an 8 years population-based retrospective study. . 2022. PMID 35105342 · DOI · PMC8805328
- Savukyne E, Bykovaite-Stankeviciene R, Machtejeviene E, Nadisauskiene R, Maciuleviciene R. Symptomatic Uterine Rupture: A Fifteen Year Review. . 2020. PMID 33138157 · DOI · PMC7693983
- Fu L, Song Z, Cao J, Hu X, Zhao D, Wang Q, et al.. Risk factors for pregnancy-related uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. . 2025. PMID 41054050 · DOI · PMC12499802
- Calì G, Timor-Tritsch IE, Palacios-Jaraquemada J, Monteaugudo A, Buca D, Forlani F, et al.. Outcome of Cesarean scar pregnancy managed expectantly: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018. PMID 28661021 · DOI
- Hofmeyr GJ, Say L, Gülmezoglu AM. WHO systematic review of maternal mortality and morbidity: the prevalence of uterine rupture. BJOG. 2005. PMID 16101600 · DOI
- Guise JM, McDonagh MS, Osterweil P, Nygren P, Chan BK, Helfand M. Systematic review of the incidence and consequences of uterine rupture in women with previous caesarean section. BMJ. 2004. PMID 15231616 · DOI · PMC443444
- Singh S, Maddow-Zimet I. Facility-based treatment for medical complications resulting from unsafe pregnancy termination in the developing world, 2012: a review of evidence from 26 countries. BJOG. 2016. PMID 26287503 · DOI · PMC4767687
- Parker WH, Einarsson J, Istre O, Dubuisson JB. Risk factors for uterine rupture after laparoscopic myomectomy. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2010. PMID 20591749 · DOI
- Miller DA, Goodwin TM, Gherman RB, Paul RH. Intrapartum rupture of the unscarred uterus. Obstet Gynecol. 1997. PMID 9166298 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
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