Uterine fibroids do not always block pregnancy, experts explain

A diagnosis of uterine fibroids does not automatically mean a woman will struggle to get pregnant or carry a child to term. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form in or around the uterus. Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director at Mother's Lap IVF Centre in New Delhi and founder of Mumma's Blessing IVF in Vrindavan, notes that their impact on fertility depends heavily on their size, count, and exact location.

Location Matters

Fibroids are grouped into three main types based on where they grow. Submucosal fibroids develop toward the inner cavity of the uterus and tend to disrupt implantation. Intramural fibroids grow inside the muscular wall, while subserosal fibroids push toward the outer surface. Two women can have similarly sized fibroids with very different fertility outcomes simply because the growths sit in different spots.

Treatment Choices

Not every fibroid needs to be treated before a woman tries to conceive. Doctors look at whether a growth distorts the uterine cavity, causes heavy bleeding or pain, or links to a history of miscarriages. In specific cases where fibroids block fertility treatments or distort the cavity, doctors may suggest a surgical procedure called a myomectomy to remove them.

Pregnancy Monitoring

Many pregnancies involving fibroids proceed normally without medical intervention. Doctors generally prefer to monitor the growth along with the baby's health and placental location rather than rushing into treatment after conception occurs.

Context

Uterine fibroids are very common benign growths that many women experience during their reproductive years without ever knowing it. Medical professionals evaluate them on a case-by-case basis during fertility assessments to understand how a patient's overall reproductive system functions together.