Uterine fibroids are common in women, especially during childbearing years. This can be a concern for many women as fibroids may impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes. However, all of your concerns and questions regarding pregnancy and fibroids will be addressed in this blog.
Lumina Interventional Radiology specialises in alternatives to fibroid removal surgery for those who have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids.
So, without further ado, let’s get into fibroids and pregnancy.
What are Fibroids?
First, let’s define what fibroids are. In essence, fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow in the uterus. Fibroids are extremely common in women, with an estimated 40% to 60% of women having developed fibroids by the age of 35.
Can Fibroids Affect Pregnancy?
It can sometimes be difficult to detect fibroids in pregnant women because fibroids can often look like the thickening of the uterus muscles that occurs during pregnancy. Some women go through pregnancy with fibroids without a problem.
However, this isn’t always the case.
Fibroids are most likely to only grow during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the increased levels of oestrogen in your body, and this can cause issues, such as:
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Miscarriage
During the second and third trimester, your expanding uterus could push against the fibroids, causing:
- Pain, with potential miscarriage
- Foetal growth restriction
- Placental abruption (very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention)
- Preterm delivery
Once you enter labour, you’re also more likely to experience:
- Breech position
- Caesarean delivery
Can Fibroids Affect Fertility?
You can still get pregnant naturally even with fibroids. For others, fibroids (especially submucosal fibroids) could increase your risk of pregnancy loss and/or infertility. You might struggle with conceiving if you have fibroids that:
- Block your fallopian tubes
- Change the shape of your uterus
- Change the shape of your cervix
Treatment
Treatment is limited for pregnant women. On the one hand, if you’re trying to conceive, you have multiple options available when it comes to removing your fibroids, including uterine artery embolisation. Speak with your doctor to discuss your options for fibroid treatment.
At Lumina Interventional Radiology, we provide a non-invasive alternative to fibroid removal surgery that can effectively eliminate fibroids with ease. Benefit from a faster recovery time and pin-point fibroid removal accuracy with Lumina. For more information on our services, or if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Lumina Interventional Radiology team today.
