How Fibroids Affect Your Pregnancy?

If you are pregnant, you will have already undergone a procedure called pelvic or ultrasound examination [Pregnancy ultrasound].

These tests help your practitioner to examine the health of the uterus and your baby.

During these tests, most pregnant women find that they have uterine fibroids. These uterine fibroids can lead to various problems during pregnancy, so it is beneficial to learn about the growth and complications that fibroids can cause to your pregnancy.uterine fibroids

What do uterine fibroids look like? Basically, fibroids are large masses that are made from tissue cells from your uterus. This is a type of non-cancerous tumor and grows in and around the uterus.

Fibroids vary greatly in size. They vary in length from a few centimeters to up to 15 centimeters or more.

Women at any age can get fibroids, but women between 20 to 50 years are more likely to develop uterine fibroids.

There is no definite cause for the development of uterine fibroids, though it is known that reproductive hormones such as estrogen[Estrogen level]and progesterone stimulate the growth of the cells and play a role in their development.

During pregnancy, the influx of these hormones causes fibroids to develop in various sizes.

After you deliver the baby, and also during the menopause stage, most of the uterine fibroids start to shrink. This is due to lack of hormones.

Though you may develop uterine fibroids, there will not be any symptoms or side-effects. Most people not even recognize that they have fibroids until they fall pregnant. If the fibroids are larger, they will cause some symptoms to appear. They include:

  • Pain in your back and legs
  • Pain during the intercourse
  • Delayed periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Pain in the pelvic region
  • Bloating or constipation

Effect of fibroids on your pregnancy

During the pregnancy period, fibroids won’t cause any symptoms. Some of the pregnant women experience minor symptoms, especially pelvic pain and some light spotting. These are the common symptoms if you suffer from fibroid torsion.

Women who have fibroids during pregnancy will not have any complications on their growing baby.

But, sometimes fibroids during pregnancy increase the risk of miscarriage and preterm labor. If the fibroids are very large, then the complications are even worse. They include:

  • Cesarean section
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Stalled labor
  • Fetal malpresentations – The growth of fibroids in the uterus forces your baby to acquire an unusual position.
  • Obstructed labor – Condition results when the fibroid develops in your birth canal

Monitoring the fibroids during pregnancy:

It is suggested that during pregnancy period you are not allowed to seek any treatment for fibroids [Fibroid treatment].

Contact your healthcare provider to monitor the development of fibroids to avoid the complications. Lie down or apply an ice pack if you feel any pain in the area.

Don’t worry; these fibroids will vanish once after the delivery and won’t make you to suffer from any problems. Still if you feel any discomfort with fibroids, then the treatment choices are:

  • Hysterectomy
  • Ablation of the fibroids
  • Medicines to minimize the growth of fibroids
  • Surgery for complete removal of the fibroids

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