Pregnancy and Fibroids

Fibroids Usually Go Unnoticed

Fibroids, non-cancerous uterine growths, usually appear in women during their childbearing years. Fortunately, fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, and there are very few cases where they have developed into cancer. Since, in most cases, there are not any overt symptoms, many women have fibroids and are not aware of it. Often they are discovered by the doctor during a routine pelvic exam. These tumors can be as small as a coin or as large as a seven month fetus, they may or may not present symptoms, and they may or may not be painful.

Will My Baby Be Okay?

The logical question from women during their prime childbearing years is, "Will fibroids interfere with a pregnancy in any way." The good news is that even if you have fibroids, the chance of delivering a healthy, normal baby is high. Modern technology enables the greater majority of women who are pregnant and have fibroids to have healthy babies. Fibroids do not usually interfere with conception. However, once a woman is pregnant the fibroids can grow rapidly, causing serious pain. But, in spite of the pain, and sometimes the need for hospitalization, fibroids do not tend to disrupt a pregnancy

Dr. Bobbie Gostout, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, explains that "During pregnancy, fibroids are not treated. We simply try to manage the symptoms in a woman who wishes to preserve fertility." She says that the fibroids can be surgically removed after the baby is born. There are newer treatments that are very promising, but they are generally applied to women who no longer wish to have children. The reason for this, she said, is, "mainly since the unknown effects on the strength of the uterus and the ability of the uterus to carry a healthy pregnancy."

What Causes Fibroid Expansion During Pregnancy?

Dr. Pedro Arrabal, MD, a Baltimore Ob-Gyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist explained that as a woman's estrogen levels rise significantly during pregnancy, fibroids can expand and grow up to ten times their original size. This means that the uterine measurements normally done during a pregnancy to determine the baby's size can be skewed. Again, modern technology comes to the rescue with ultrasound and other tests that can monitor the baby's growth and development as well as keep an eye on the fibroid growth.

Complications Associated with Fibroids

There are potential complications with fibroids during pregnancy, such as an obstructed birth canal, which may call for a Cesarean delivery. Early contractions and preterm labor are other possible risks with fibroids. In very rare situations, a fibroid can lodge under the placenta causing it to separate from the uterus and potentially causing a hemorrhage or stillbirth. In the early stages of pregnancy, Dr. Gostout indicated the possibility of a miscarriage.

"The actual odds of fibroid-related problems in pregnancy are unknown," says Dr. Gostout.