Fibroids are noncancerous growth that occurs either inside or at times even outside of the uterus. It is common above the age of 30. Some women have single fibroids while others have multiple. The fibroid treatment depends on the size, number, location, symptoms and age of the patient. The symptoms are usually excessive pain or bleeding during periods, it can also cause bowel and bladder disturbances. But are you aware that it even affects the fertility of women? To know in what way it affects fertility read below.
How does it affect fertility?
There are multiple ways that the fibroid can affect fertility in women. It decreases the blood flow to the uterus and thus affects the embryo’s ability to stick to the uterus and grow. It changes the shape of the uterus which affects the movement of sperm. It also changes the shape of the cervix causing difficulty for the sperm to enter as well as reducing the number of sperm that enters the cervix. Fibroids can also block the fallopian tube(if it is located near the opening of fallopian tube) thus delaying the process of conceiving. There are three types of fibroids: Intramural, submucosal, and sub serosal out of which submucosal commonly causes infertility.
Fibroids can interfere with ovulation(especially multiple fibroids). It also decreases the blood flow to the endometrium causing it to be thin. A thick endometrium is necessary for the fertilized egg to stick and grow.
How far does it affect fertility?
Approximately 5-10 percent of women who are trying to conceive have a fibroid. Out of which, 2 percent of the women have difficulty in conceiving due to the fibroid. The size, number, type, and location determine how far it affects. Fibroids that are inside the uterus (submucosal) and fibroids above the size of 6cms affect fertility the most. Similarly, women with multiple fibroids are affected the most compared to women with single fibroids.
Why is it important to treat fibroids while planning to conceive?
It causes irregular periods which makes it difficult to track ovulation for conceiving. Fibroids tend to grow. And larger the fibroid is, the more the complications associated with it. So early intervention is important. Not all women with fibroid are infertile. So in case if you get pregnant with fibroids there is a high chance that it grows in pregnancy. Studies have shown that women with fibroids have an increased risk of having a miscarriage, preterm birth, sudden intrauterine death, placental abruption or even a C section. So the fibroid must be treated right from when you are planning to conceive.
What are the treatment options usually involved?
In mild cases where the fibroid is not at risk of affecting fertility, the treatment involves putting the women on hormonal medications to control the bleeding, to regularize the cycle and also to shrink the size of the fibroid. In case the fibroid is found to affect fertility surgical treatment would be suggested and the type of surgery depends on the type and location of the fibroid. Couples who are planning to conceive with a fibroid larger than 4 cm usually undergo IVF. In some cases, eggs are frozen before fibroid treatment so that they are protected from being damaged and later it is used for further treatment for conceiving.
