Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that form in the uterus from muscle in the organ. Many women have them, and they don't always cause a problem – unless you're trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant.
Pregnancy is an essential aspect of many women's lives – but various aspects of your life affect your chances of getting pregnant – including fibroids. They make it more difficult to conceive and can cause complications in your pregnancy.
At Collaborative Women's Care in Miami, Florida, Dr. Eduardo Valdes helps you achieve your goal to get pregnant, even if you have fibroids. He is an experienced OB/GYN who offers various treatments for infertility, fibroids, and other women's health problems.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the uterus's muscle. They can be as small as a seed or as big as an orange or grapefruit. Not all fibroids cause symptoms, but they're difficult to live with when they do.
You may have only one fibroid or many that vary in size and location within the uterus. According to The Office on Women's Health, 20 to 80% of women will have had a uterine fibroid by the age of 50.
Not all fibroids cause symptoms, but they can be severe when they do. Some of the symptoms fibroids cause include:
Fibroids can also affect a current pregnancy – in fact, you're six times more likely to require a C-section if you have active fibroids during pregnancy. However, many women with fibroids have normal pregnancies and healthy births.
The effect of fibroids on infertility isn't apparent, but it may be a factor in having difficulty conceiving. However, many women with fibroids get pregnant naturally and don't require treatment.
You may not require any fertility treatment to get pregnant, but in some cases, it may be necessary. Certain types of fibroids do affect fertility, including submucosal fibroids. These fibroids grow into the uterine cavity, causing infertility or pregnancy loss.
Although infertility may be a factor when you're living with fibroids, Dr. Valdes often explores other possible causes before deciding on fibroids as the culprit.
Fibroids may affect pregnancy, but not every woman will have complications. Many women have normal pregnancies and healthy births, even with fibroids.
One of the most prevalent issues with fibroids and pregnancy is pain or discomfort. However, some women will experience other problems as well, including:
Not every woman with fibroids will have these complications; most women have healthy pregnancies and complication-free births.
Fibroids may increase in size during pregnancy, possibly due to the significant hormonal changes your body goes through. They may also shrink, which is the best-case scenario.
Treatment for fibroids while you're pregnant is minimal due to the risks to the baby. However, Dr. Valdes may recommend mild pain relievers, bed rest, and staying hydrated to manage your symptoms during pregnancy.
If you're worried about having a fibroid and getting pregnant, Dr. Valdes offers various treatments before you start trying to conceive. He may suggest removing the fibroids (myomectomy), myolysis (shrinking blood vessels to the fibroid), or hormonal birth control to tame your symptoms.
Call our office today at 305-200-3878 for fibroid treatments, or schedule a consultation with Dr. Valdes online.
