Do uterine fibroids affect fertility?

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the female genitalia. Most patients are asymptomatic, and a few patients may experience vaginal bleeding, abdominal masses, etc., so they are often ignored. However, if uterine fibroids are not treated or treated improperly, they will have a great impact on women and even affect their ability to conceive. The extent of the impact is related to factors such as their location, size, and number.

1. Location of fibroids

Fibroids can grow at the fundus of the uterus or at the cervix, but most of them grow in the body of the uterus. When the pedicles of some fibroids, such as submucosal fibroids, are too long and block the cervical opening or prolapse into the vagina, they often affect the passage of sperm, preventing the fertilized egg from implanting and developing, thus affecting conception.

2. The size of the fibroid

Uterine fibroids vary greatly in size, with the largest even weighing tens of kilograms. Excessively large fibroids, such as intramural fibroids, can cause mechanical obstruction or deformation of the uterine cavity, thereby affecting the implantation of the fertilized egg or causing early miscarriage.

3. Number of fibroids

Uterine fibroids are often multiple, and some patients may even have dozens or hundreds of fibroids growing at the same time. When the number of fibroids is too large or even covers the entire uterus, it will also affect the implantation and development of the fertilized egg, and thus affect the woman's ability to conceive.

In short, uterine fibroids can not only affect women's conception, but can also cause miscarriage even if they become pregnant. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with uterine fibroids receive appropriate treatment before considering pregnancy. If they are already pregnant, they should also have regular check-ups, closely monitor the development of fibroids, and prevent the occurrence of related complications.