Uterine Fibroids

Will my fibroids affect my pregnancy?

It is not uncommon to experience uterine fibroids during pregnancy. 50-80% of all women have atleast one fibroid and 10-30% of pregnant women will have uterine fibroids. While some women will already suffer from uterine fibroids before becoming conceiving, some women will find out they have a fibroid during a routine pelvic exam or ultrasound.

A uterine fibroid is a non-cancerous tumor that consists of tissue cells from the uterus. Fibroids are generally found in or near the uterus. Because these tumors usually grow in clsuters, there is a great chance that if you have one uterine fibroid, you have several. Uterine fibroids vary in size and can distort the size and shape of the uterus. A typical uterine fibroid will be approximately 2 cm to 15 cm in size.

Intramural Fibroids: These fibroids grow inside the wall of the uterus and are the most common type of uterine fibroid.

Subserosal Fibroids: These fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus and can become very large in size. Occasionally, subserol fibroids grow in a line and can reach other organs in the body.

Submucosal Fibroids: These fibroids grow inside of the uterus and are the least common type of uterine fibroid.

While any woman is at risk for uterine fibroids, women that are between the ages of 20 and 50 are more likely to have them. African-American women are also more likely to experience uterine fibroids. There is no distinct cause or reason for a fibroid to develop. However, researchers believe that genes and hormones are the main cause. Estrogen and progesterone, both reproductive hormones, stimulate cell growth and can cause fibroids to form. Because your hormones are raging during pregnancy, the fibroids may grow in size.

Normally, fibroids do not cause any complications or conern for women, during life or during pregnancy. While most uterine fibroids will not cause any complications during pregnancy, the chance of miscarriage and preterm labor is slightly higher when they are present. If the fibroids are large, you may experience the following symptoms:

Pain during sexual intercourse
Constipation
Bloating
Pelvic pain/pressure
Back pain
Light spotting
Postpartum hemorrhage
Obstructed labor if the fibroid grows into the vagina
Abnormal fetal positions

Healthcare providers do not recommend treating uterine fibroids during pregnancy. More than likely, your doctor will continue to monitor the size of your uterus to check for any possible complications that could develop with the size of the fibroids. If the fibroids become painful, doctors recommend laying down and using ice to releive the pain. If you notice severe pain or bleeding, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Most firbroids will become smaller after pregnancy and you probably won't experience any problems from them. However, if you are still suferring from the negative effects of fibroids after your baby has been delivered, you can seek treatment. Treatment options include hysterectomy, surgery to remove the uterine fibroids and medications to encourage the fibroids to shrink in size.

Comments: Uterine Fibroids

Comments 1 to 22 of about 22.
1

chiandra7@MSN.com - 485 days ago.
For strongdad2b: something compelled me to write to you immediately. I hope by now you guys have concieved but of not please don't get discouraged and continue to stay strong for her. God is more powerful then any science! There are millions of woman with huge multiple fibroids that go on to have healthy babies. There is a new procedure that is less invasive as a myo surgery. Embolization has better long term results and they grow back unlike the other surgery. Fibroids are nothing to scared of. They are not harmful just a nuisance. Trusg and beleive in your faith I have 3 fibroids that are so big the doctor said they are blocking the babies growth. Yet and behold fibroids have nothing to do with it. So just keep the faith and look into that procedure. You are not put to sleepand the incision is the size of a pen. Google the videos on line. I will pray for you and your wife. But I know in my heart yoi guys will be blessed.

snooks - 855 days ago.
katiedidit, That is a question your doctor should be able to answer. I have 3 fibroids and am 14.5 weeks pregnant. Not one of my doctors ( my regular, my obgyn, or the doctor monitoring my blood clotting problem) so I have 3 doctors I am currently seeing regularily cares one hoot about the fibroids. It may depend on where they are, etc, but so very many people have them and carry healthy babies.

katiedidit - 855 days ago.
I went to a dr today and they said I have a fibroid. Does anyone know if it hurts the baby?

nganther - 891 days ago.
Hey Mommies! I have had over 100 fibroids removed in the last 8 years. I've had 3 myomectomies and 2 miscarriages. I am currently 14 weeks pregnant and just had a 4 day stint in the hospital due to fibroid degeneration. If you have any questions about Fibroids, please feel free to message me. I've done ALOT of research and have found a wonderful team of DR'S to help me conceive.

lmv@2010 - 942 days ago.
they see them in the ultrasound when i first found out that i was pregnant they did my ultrasound and could see the fibroid.

erubio77 - 965 days ago.
So when you get a ultrasound during pregnancy. Can the doctor see the fibroids or do you need be test for them?

mylouie1 - 1103 days ago.
I am currently pregnant with my second child and my uterus according to my doctor is covered with fibroids. Prior to getting pregnant with my first child my doctor was against surgery for treatment as she thought the scar tissue from the surgery would cause more fertility issues than the fibroids themselves. I was pregant within four months of TTC. I feared the worse for that pregnancy after reading several stories on the internet. I had no problems at all during pregnancy however, I did have to have a c-section due to size and location of my fiborids. Largest fibroid during pregnancy was 11x14. Mind you I was 38 at time of delivery. I thought for sure I would not be able to get pregnant again. Low and behold I am now 40 years old, pregnant, and have at least 5 large fibroids. Many women do NOT have problems with fibroids and pregnancy it is just rarer to hear those stories when talking about fibroids.

mommieandme - 1296 days ago.
Hi firstmommy08, I found out I was pregnany in March 08. It started with constant bleeding and on July 19th-08 I miscarried. It was the most heartbreaking event in my life. The doc had found out that I had fibroids and on Feb 24-09 I had a myomectomy. He removed 6 fibroids. The surgery was not bad but the incision got infected and that in itself was worse than surgery. I am now 12 weeks pregnant and one fibroid has regrowm. I started with bleeding for a few weeks but it has stopped and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it goes al lthe way. God is good and whatever he has in store for us it will happen. I had that surgery 7 moths almost to the day that I found out I was pregnant again. I would advise anyone to have the myo because it can only make the chances greater. Hope this helped and please pray that my baby remains strong and makes it till the end.. Best of luck to everyone!

Amber J - 1314 days ago.
I started miscarrying on the 17th of October, and during my vaginal ultrasound in hospital, they said they found a fibroid. They said it wasn't very big, but I was wondering if they are likely to grow, or do you get more. Do you just leave them if you are having no problems? Thanks.

TRYING4BABYNUM1 - 1432 days ago.
any1 w/ fibroids plan to have them removed after u deliver your baby?

strongdad2b - 1503 days ago.
Hi ladies, My wife & I (both 36) just found out that about 50% of her uterus is covered in fibroids. We are trying to concieve. We live in Queens, NY. Could someone PLEASE steer us in the right direction on the best method or medical help so we can have a health pregancy? I'm tring to be strong for her & if we only have one child, it would be a blessing from God.

mother of one - 1507 days ago.
During my c-section one of the doctors said that I had two small tumors (uterine fibroids) that was December 1, 2008. I went to the ER (Feb. 10, 2009) for ovary pain (only on my right side) the doctor did a internal u/s and regular u/s and a pap smear and bloodwork. They said that they didnt see anything wrong with me and there were no uterine fibroids. So does that mean they went away? I'm still have chroinc ovary pain that sometimes shifts to my left side. No doctor seems to know why I'm having this pain. What could this pain be? If the fibroids came back does that mean I'll have trobule getting pregnant? My periods come every 23days does uterine fibroids effect your period?

Hope4aMiracle2255 - 1541 days ago.
hi does any one have fibroids and endo. I was diagnosed with both in 06'.

RACHEL-ANU - 1542 days ago.
Hallo ladies,At five weeks i was told i had fibroids i am 10 weeks now and hoping all goes well wth this bump of mine.

luvbingamama - 1571 days ago.
I have 1 large fibroid (about 18 cm) outside of my uterus. This hasn't seem to have effected the baby's growth at all. I encountered my first problem during my 3rd u/s (around 3 mos.). Due to the size & placement of my fibroid, I was advised that the baby may not be in my uterus and I may have an ectopic pregnancy. Luckily, a followup u/s showed that the baby was in my uterus and was fine. I didn't encounter any other problems until last week (31 weeks) when I was hospitalized for preterm labor. I'm now home & confined to bed rest until my due date. I'll also have to have a c-section as a vaginal birth will be too risky. If anything, this experience has taught me to be well informed and to have a good doctor. Good luck ladies!

firstmommy08 - 1577 days ago.
Has anyone had a myomectomy? to remove the fibroids and if so, how did that go?

paulatortie - 1578 days ago.
I found out at 12 weeks scan that I have multiple fibroids. By the end of the pregnancy they ranged from 5cm to 10cm. However, I gave birth to a beautiful boy at the end of October who is absolutely fine and thriving. Thorough monitoring and understanding consultants are vital and in my opinion it's improtant to research (but not to the point of neurosis) ask questions and demand great care. My fibroids were mainly subserosal but one was intramural. I had a vaginal delivery (forceps assisted). We're both fine.

trying4babynum1 - 1595 days ago.
anyone who has had uterine fibroids please write me w /their experience..thanks i am 14 wks and just found out that i have them!

SpecialKP - 1599 days ago.
Hi girls! Im 7 weeks 5 days preganant and havea fairly large fibroid (15cms). Ive been for 2 u/s and seen the babys heartbeat. The sonographer has said the 'droid' is 'fundally' positioned - does anyone know what that means? Thanks a lot! x

anointedprincess - 1602 days ago.
My fibroid was 3 cm when I got pregnant the last time and grew to 15X8 cm by the end of my pregnancy... It is on the outside of my uterus. now I am pregnant again and my fibroid is the exact same size... I am hoping it does not grow again. My fibroid feels like it moves... I am not sure what that is all about because my baby is on the right side of my uterus due to the fibroid being on the left. I can already feel the baby move once in awhile. I had my u/s last week and we saw the baby... do you think it's possible there could be more than one and the fibroid is blocking the view?

babykiss - 1604 days ago.
Hi, what is a right uterine body intramural fibroid?..thanks.

babykiss - 1607 days ago.
Hi, happy new year, anyone pregnant with two tiny uterine body intramural fibroid or posterior uterine boby?