Will uterine fibroids affect pregnancy? How do uterine fibroids cause infertility?

Uterine fibroids are a common condition in women of childbearing age. Many people worry whether it will affect pregnancy? Generally speaking, all diseases related to the female reproductive system will more or less affect pregnancy plans. Some effects are obvious, and some are invisible. This should be a specific analysis of specific issues and cannot be generalized. Therefore, the question of whether uterine fibroids will affect pregnancy cannot be concluded and must be discussed in essence.

1. Understanding uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumors among women. The probability of finding uterine fibroids is as high as 20% in women of childbearing age. Fortunately, most of them are benign, and the probability of malignant lesions is less than 0.5%. Since uterine fibroids occur in women of childbearing age, the combination of uterine fibroids during pregnancy is a topic that many pregnant women must face.

Most uterine fibroids have no symptoms. Many female friends are not told that they have uterine fibroids until they become pregnant. They often worry whether uterine fibroids will affect the growth of the fetus in the abdomen? Will it cause uterine contractions? Will it increase the risks for the mother and fetus during delivery? ... These doubts bring great physical and mental pressure to pregnant women.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids vary depending on where they grow

Due to different growth locations and sizes, uterine fibroids can be divided into serosal uterine fibroids, myometrial uterine fibroids and mucosal uterine fibroids, and the symptoms are also different:

(1) Uterine mucosal fibroids: May cause excessive menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, miscarriage, etc.

(2) Fibroids on the anterior wall of the uterus: can cause symptoms of frequent urination.

(3) Uterine posterior wall fibroids: difficulty in defecation.

(4) Large fibroids on the side of the uterus: may compress the ureter and cause renal edema.

Will uterine fibroids affect pregnancy?

Uterine fibroids can affect pregnancy, and about 25%-40% of patients are infertile. This is related to the size and location of the fibroids.

1. Uterine horn fibroids can cause the fallopian tubes to twist and deform, affecting the passage of sperm or fertilized eggs and reducing the chance of conception.

2. Uterine fibroids will increase the frequency, amplitude and duration of contractions, interfere with the implantation of the fertilized egg, and make miscarriage likely after implantation.

Uterine fibroids occupy the uterine cavity under the mucosa, affecting the implantation of the fertilized egg.

4. Uterine fibroids growing in the cervix can compress the cervical canal, obstruct the passage or change the direction of the cervical opening, making it away from the semen pool in the posterior fornix, which is not conducive to sperm entering the cervical opening.

5. Larger intramural fibroids can not only change the normal shape of the uterine cavity, but also compress the fallopian tubes and hinder the passage of eggs.

6. Fibroids growing in the lubricating ligament can stretch and twist the surface of the fallopian tube, squeeze the lumen, affect its patency, or displace the ovary, expand the distance between the ovary and the fallopian tube, and hinder the egg retrieval function of the fallopian tube fimbria.

Therefore, for patients with uterine fibroids, it is best to get pregnant after surgical removal of the fibroids and to get pregnant after six months of contraception.