Fibroids and Fertility

Fibroids are growths that typically occur in the uterus. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can affect pregnancy, or cause medical complications that have serious side effects. They are not linked to infertility and they are non-cancerous, so are they harmful or not? And can they be treated? That is what this article will address.

What Are Fibroids?

Other names used to speak about fibroids are leiomyomas, or myomas. Usually, they do not infringe on a person’s health, but they sometimes can interfere with daily life. In such cases, there are treatment options available. Fibroids are classified by their characteristics as they grow, and there are three main ones: 

• Intramural fibroids develop inside the muscular tissue of the uterus.
• Submucosal fibroids grow inward into the uterine wall.
• Subserosal fibroids grow outward, away from the uterine wall.

The submucosal and subserosal fibroids  grow on a stalk as it were, and this classifies them as pedunculated.

Signs of Fibroids

People who have fibroids are often unaware because fibroids usually do not have symptoms. Those that do cause symptoms will cause a person to experience: 

Irregularities in Their Periods

If your regular period starts to be accompanied by pain, becomes heavier or longer, or increases in frequency, it may be due to fibroids.

Pelvic or Abdominal Pain

If you begin to experience pain or pressure in your pelvis when having sex, or having pain in your lower back and abdomen, it could also be because of fibroids. 

There are rare instances where a fibroid grows very large and then quite suddenly dies. This typically causes sudden and severe pain in the abdomen.

Difficulty with Bowel and Bladder Function

Fibroids can also cause a person to have constipation, urinate with more frequency, or even have difficulty in passing urine.

Physical Changes

There are situations where one or more fibroids grow so huge that it enlarges or distorts the appearance of the abdomen, making a person look pregnant.

Causes of Fibroids

Although the exact cause that sets off the growth of fibroids is unknown, what is known is that the hormone  estrogen can cause small growths inside the uterus to become bigger quite fast. This causes any abnormal tissues to spread uncontrollably. 

As a result, females are more susceptible to fibroids during their reproductive years, compared to those who have not yet begun puberty and those who are already past menopause. 

Lifestyle and genetics are also contributing factors to the development of fibroids, as are high blood pressure and obesity. A family medical history of fibroids could increase the risk of their development as well. 

Treatment of Fibroids

Usually, fibroids are treated using medication or surgery and these measures are taken when a person is experiencing pain, bleeding, or symptoms that raise concern. It is important to note that Medical intervention usually does not cause infertility.

Nonsurgical Options

Non surgical treatments are applied to small fibroids or fibroids that have mild symptoms. Typically the treatments are medicine-based or hormone-based.

Hormone-based Treatments

The main hormone used to treat fibroids is gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). It shrinks the fibroids and  their symptoms. 

GnRHa therapy is a short-term treatment plan which reduces the levels of estrogen in the body, and this in turn slows or reverses fibroid growth.

When done as part of pre-surgical preparation, shrinking fibroids increases the chances of successful surgical removal. The use of GnRHa medication in the long term however, is not recommended. 

Medication-based Treatments

Oral contraceptive pills are the go-to for medicine based treatment of fibroids. These reduce the size of the endometrium, thus reducing excessive bleeding that is usually caused when fibroids are problematic.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Embolization is a cutting off of the blood supply, in this case, to the problematic fibroid. The procedure is done using a small catheter which is inserted close to the fibroid itself. Embolization damages and shrinks the fibroid.

Ultrasound-based Treatment

An ultrasound produces high-energy sound waves to break down and eradicate the fibroids. The procedure does not damage any of the tissue in the surrounding area.

Surgery

Surgery is based on the size of the fibroids, but the age, health, and family building plans of the patient are also considered. The surgical interventions available are:

Hysteroscopic Myomectomy

In this procedure, a hysteroscope is used to find the fibroids and is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. Once located a surgical tool is used to cut or burn the fibroid. This procedure is usually done on small problematic growths and is done as a brief one-day outpatient process.

Laparoscopic Myomectomy

Larger fibroids can be removed laparoscopically, where incisions are made in the lower abdomen to allow the fibroids to be extracted easily. The procedure can also be done as an outpatient procedure.

Full Hysterectomy

A full hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus from the body. While the fibroids will no longer be a problem, the person will no longer have a menstrual cycle, nor be able to become pregnant.

It is usually done only in cases where there is recurrence of debilitating fibroids and the patient has no intention of having children later on.

Summing It Up

Fibroids grow in the uterus and are neither cancerous nor harmful, but can cause problems requiring medical attention. 

Seek immediate emergency care if you experience severe vaginal bleeding with  lightheadedness, fatigue, and weakness, it could be severe complications related to fibroids.

Further, if you have concerns about fibroids, or need treatment for fibroid-related issues, contact Ivy Fertility at our various locations across the country.