Fibroids and Pregnancy

It is quite glaring that fibroid is becoming one of the most commonly discussed issues among private gynaecologists. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow on or inside the uterus, or womb. They can either appear small or large and can grow inside the uterine cavity, in the uterine wall or outside the uterine wall.

However, they are becoming pervasive among women of all ages. At least, about 30 to 60% of women have fibroids by age 35, while almost 80% of women have them by age 50, which means uterine fibroids are bound to occur among some women even during their child reproduction years.
However, most women are often concerned about the effect of fibroids on their ability to reproduce. In this article, we will be unravelling issues relating to fibroid and how it can affect a woman's pregnancy.

Not all women experience complications from fibroid during their pregnancy. Research suggests that about 20 to 30% of women with fibroids may develop complications during pregnancy. However, if complications occur, they are usually one of the following :

Placental abruption: sometimes, a fibroid may lead to placental abruption. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta breaks out from the uterine wall. When this occurs, it reduces the quality of essential nutrient and oxygen needed for the growth of a foetus.

Fetal growth restriction: fibroid may either appear large or small. The growth of large fibroid in the uterine wall can reduce the amount of space in the womb required for the baby to grow. Most times, it results in inadequacies in child development and growth.

Cesarean delivery: research shows that women with fibroids are more likely to undergo cesarean delivery compared to women without any form of growth in their uterus.
It is quite important to note that not all women with growth experience complications during pregnancy. Research, however, suggests that over 70% of women with fibroids before conceiving decreased in size after childbirth.

In summary, in cases where the fibroids are small, with a patent fallopian tubes and healthy uterine cavity, there are little or no complications during pregnancies.

At our private gynaecologist clinic in London, questions are often directed to the effect of fibroid on a woman's ability to conceive. However, in most cases, fibroids may not necessarily interfere with your chances of getting pregnant. Some women with fibroids have been able to conceive naturally, even without treatment. Nevertheless, several women have encountered some difficulties in conceiving without treatment.

Although fibroids may cause infertility for some women, there are other glaring causes of infertility; which is why you need to visit your private gynaecologist as early as possible.

A consultation with a private gynaecologist in London or a fibroid specialist is often required. However, we only recommend a one on one consultation with a fibroid specialist in London only when you are sure you have a fibroid. Whichever may be the case, an ultrasound scan is often carried out to make an assessment for fibroid and to determine its size. If the fibroids are large and within the uterine cavity, further assessment will be carried out. In some cases, surgical operation will be carried out to remove the growth.

For more information's on fibroid and pregnancy, please visit a fibroid specialist or our Harley Street gynecologist. Call 020 7183 0435 To book an appointment with us.