Uterine Fibroids and Their Link to Infertility

If you have trouble getting pregnant, it may be due to uterine fibroids. They are benign tumors that may grow in the womb. If you conceive, fibroids may affect your ability to carry the pregnancy to full term. About 30% of women aged 25 to 44 have symptoms of fibroids. If you suspect that you may have uterine fibroids, seek help from a doctor that deals with infertility in Frisco.

Symptoms of Fibroids

The symptoms of fibroids vary from one person to another. Some of them include:

• Anemia caused by heavy bleeding
• Painful or heavy periods
• Pain during intercourse
• Feeling some pressure around your lower abdomen
• Constipation
• Spotting
• Low back pain
• Always feeling ‘full’
• Reproductive problems
• Trouble emptying your bladder
• Big clots during menstruation

Seek the opinion of a doctor if you have these symptoms. They will give you the correct diagnosis and treatment. There are lots of options for your doctor to test for fibroids. The most common one is the use of ultrasound.

How Fibroids Affect Fertility

Lots of women with fibroids can get pregnant without medical intervention. However, there are times when they may affect your fertility. Submucosal fibroids, for example, grow into your uterine cavity. They increase your chances of pregnancy loss and infertility. Intramural fibroids grow in the uterine walls. Pedunculated fibroids grow on a stalk outside or within the uterus. Subserosal fibroids grow out of your uterine wall.

If you have fibroids that have caused infertility, your doctor may perform surgery to remove them.

The Effect of Fibroids on Pregnancy

The most common effect of fibroids on pregnancy is pain. This is especially common if your fibroids are bigger than five centimeters. Pregnancy pain with fibroids can get worse in the last trimesters. They increase your risk of complications such as;

Preterm Delivery

If you have fibroids, the pain could cause uterine contractions that lead to a preterm delivery

Fetal Growth Restriction

If large fibroids grow in your womb, they take up the space that should have been for the growth of your fetus. They may restrict growth

Breech Position

The presence of fibroids in your womb gives it an abnormal position. The baby could have no space to align in the right position for delivery. It increases the chances of cesarean delivery.

Recurrent Miscarriage

Uterine fibroids can cause recurrent miscarriage. 5% of miscarriage and fertility issues are a result of fibroids. Your chances of getting a miscarriage with fibroids depend on the position and size of fibroids.

Placental Abruption

This is when your placenta breaks from the walls of your uterus. It happens when a fibroid is blocking it. It inhibits the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients

If you have been diagnosed with fibroids, your doctor may prescribe medication as the first treatment option. The right medication will shrink the fibroids and reduce its symptoms. If they do not respond well to treatment, surgery may be the best option. Your doctor may also suggest natural solutions to moderate the levels of estrogen in your body.