Fibroids And Getting Pregnant

While up to 30% of all women in their childbearing years will suffer from uterine fibroids there’s no proof that they are a significant cause for infertility. A recent study found that only fibroids of the submucus type will have a negative bearing on a woman’s fertility.

Submucus fibroids are those that are situated quite close to the inner lining of the uterus or inside the uterine cavity. If a large uterine fibroid situated in this manner should push into the uterine cavity, the shape of the uterus may be distorted, and this may cause infertility.

3D Ultrasound

A proper scan with ultrasound equipment is an absolute necessity to determine the position of the fibroid. In fact, a 3D ultrasound is even better. If the submucus fibroid is found inside the uterine cavity, it may be removed by a hysteroscopy.

During a hysteroscopy, a lighted scope is inserted into the vagina and threaded through the cervix and on into the uterus. No incision is necessary. The fibroid is removed and the uterine cavity is restored to its normal shape.

Physicians say that even a very large fibroid will not impair a woman’s fertility. However, the removal of a large fibroid by surgery may compromise the woman’s uterus so that a future pregnancy might not have a successful outcome. Surgery requiring an incision leaves a scar that may open up as the uterus strains and expands with pregnancy and subsequent contractions of the uterus.

Scar Rupture

If you have had fibroids surgically removed and plan to become pregnant, it is important to find out from your gynecologist if his instruments entered the uterine cavity during surgery. In this case, you may need an elective C-section. This will be scheduled 3 weeks prior to your delivery date so as to prevent the possibility of a rupture of your uterine scar during delivery.

Any fibroid that dips into the uterine cavity can lead to recurrent miscarriage. The fibroid prevents the embryo from being able to implant into the uterine cavity. The inevitable result is miscarriage. If no other reason can be determined for recurrent miscarriage, taking out a submucus fibroid may end up helping you conceive and have a happy pregnancy outcome.

Fibroids are so very common that one or two out of every 100 pregnant women will be found to have fibroids. The good news is that only one woman out of every 500 women will have to be hospitalized for fibroid complications.