Navigating the journey or pregnancy can be both exciting and challenging, especially when dealing with the complexities of a fibroid diagnosis. While rare, fibroids can contribute to miscarriage, defined as the loss of a pregnancy before reaching 23 weeks of gestation.
This post explains how fibroids (tumors) can affect your fertility journey, from conception to pregnancy. It will highlight the connections between fibroids and miscarriage, and explore treatment options available before, during, and after pregnancy.
Having fibroids during pregnancy may increase your risk for miscarriage. While most fibroid tumors don’t interfere with pregnancy, those located in the uterine cavity or near the endometrial lining may lead to complications, including:
However, there are effective strategies to help reduce the risk of miscarriage related to fibroids. These can be employed during pregnancy and before conceiving.
Many fibroids do not require treatment during pregnancy. However, because these tumors may increase in size during this time, due to increased blood flow to the uterus, your doctor will likely monitor you and your fibroids closely throughout your pregnancy.
If you experience worsening fibroid symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, you may need to consider bed rest or, in some cases, hospitalization to protect your health and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Fibroids can impact pregnancy in several ways, potentially increasing the risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, or breech births, which may require interventions such as a delivery via cesarean section for delivery. Also, because fibroids can cause bleeding during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend increased rest during this time.
Typically, fibroids are not treated during pregnancy. However, in rare cases, a pregnant woman may need a myomectomy (surgical removal of a fibroid tumor) before delivering her baby.
During pregnancy, fibroids are typically monitored, rather than actively treated. However, if you have been diagnosed with fibroids and are planning to conceive, exploring treatment options prior to conceiving can be beneficial. Fibroids can affect pregnancy in several ways, including egg fertilization or embryo implantation, depending on their size and location.
If you choose that path, you might consider treatments like myomectomy or minimally invasive Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). (Learn more about pregnancy after UFE here.) Many women feel more confident about their chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby after uterine fibroid treatment.
If you conceive without treat your fibroid tumors, you can still have a healthy pregnancy.
After delivering your baby, you can revisit your fibroid treatment options. Many women find that their fibroids shrink after pregnancy, relieving many symptoms that bothered them prior to conception. However, if fibroids continue to impact your quality of life after pregnancy, and you’re interested in minimally invasive treatment options, request a consultation at the Georgia Fibroid Institute to see if you’re a candidate for UFE.
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