Pregnancy Tips: What Are Fibroids And How Do They Affect Conception?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Lai Fon Min
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | A Company for Women, Camden Medical Centre
reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations" by Today's Parents magazine
I HAVE BEEN TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CONCEIVE FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. MY GYNAE DISCOVERED I HAVE FIBROIDS. WHAT SHOULD I DO AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT MY CHANCES OF HAVING A CHILD?

Uterine Fibroids (myoma or leiomyoma) are very common – they are benign (noncancerous) growths of the uterine muscle. The size and location of the fibroids are important. The large majority of them are very small or located in an area of the uterus such that they will not have any impact on reproductive function.

There are three general locations for fibroids:

(1) Subserosal – on the outside surface of the uterus
(2) Intramural – within the muscular wall of the uterus, and
(3) Submucous – bulging into the uterine cavity.

The only type that will have any impact on reproductive function (unless it is very large) is the submucous type that is within the uterine cavity. These are much less common than the other two types of fibroids.

Because of their location inside the uterine cavity, submucous fibroids can cause infertility or miscarriages and may be removed hysteroscopically (a slim instrument inserted through the cervix into the uterus).

Other causes for infertility should be considered before treatment is initiated for subserosal or intramural fibroids which do not distort the uterine cavity.


Studies of infertile women with submucous fibroids distorting the endometrial cavity found significantly lower pregnancy and delivery rates, compared with infertile women without fibroids.

It is important to note that removal of submucous fibroids led to a significant increase in the pregnancy rate compared with the case in infertile women without fibroids.

Source: Pregnancy Tips: What Are Fibroids And How Do They Affect Conception?