Fibroids And Pregnancy

Back in 1993, a study was undertaken which examined 12,500 pregnancies where 500 women had the presence of fibroids detected during their pregnancies. Out of these 500 women, 88% of them had single fibroids.

It was shown that there was an increased risk of bleeding, pain and early delivery in those women with detectable fibroids. The larger the fibroids were-the larger the chances of these risks. They were also higher if the fibroid was located under the placenta.

Many women report an increase in fibroid size during pregnancy. Studies have shown that around 20% of fibroids will increase in size with the remainder staying the same. Out of those which increase, the majority revert to their pre-pregnancy size within a few months of delivery.

Even when not pregnant, fibroids can cause feelings of pressure and heaviness as they press and lean on the internal organs. If pressure is put on the nerves, it can cause sharp pain in the lower back and in the legs.

Rarely, pain from fibroids during pregnancy can be caused by degeneration. When this happens, the fibroid begins to bleed into the middle of the fibroid. This is most common in the middle three months of the pregnancy and is thought to be caused by the fibroid outgrowing its blood supply. Although painful and alarming, this usually settles without treatment.

Infertility in women can be caused by the presence of fibroids, but this is thought to account for only a small percentage of infertile women (estimated to be around 3-4%). If the fibroids develop just under the lining of the womb, this can inhibit the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Misacarriages can be the result, although they will happen so early that most women might not even realize that they are pregnant. Very rarely, a fibroid might be positioned at the entrance to the fallopian tubes or the cervix and will stop the passage of sperm.

Once pregnant, fibroids have the potential to prevent the normal development of the womb and can lead to premature birth. Premature birth is a risk if you have fibroids but in most cases, this will only be 2 or 3 weeks earlier than normal and so should not be a risk to the baby.

If a woman who is unsuccessfully trying to conceive is found to have fibroids, these might be removed if they are large as it may improve her chances of becoming pregnant. Indeed, research has shown that conceiving could be improved by up to 80%.

However, if they are small, fibroids will usually not be removed as it is thought that the effect on fertility will be minimal.

The location of fibroids can be an issue-particularly if they are located near the entrance to the womb. This can cause a blockage of the birth canal and mean that a cesarian section is necessary to protect both the mother and baby.

If located under the placenta, there is also an increased risk of pain, early delivery and miscarriage.