Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow on the wall of the uterus. They are the most common tumours of the female genital tract and between 40 and 50% of women may suffer from them.
Once they appear, it is important to go to frequent gynecological check-ups to evaluate their condition, the appearance of new fibroids and uterine health in general.
The causes of fibroids are currently unknown, although it is considered that hormonal changes, especially those related to alterations in estrogen levels, may influence their appearance.
Types of fibroids
Uterine fibroids can be very small in size and do not produce any symptoms, however in some cases they can be the cause of irregular, abundant and painful menstruation. If their growth is advanced, they can end up compressing one or more organs of the pelvis, causing pain and discomfort.
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- To understand if a fibroid can affect fertility and a possible pregnancy, it is important to first know the type of tumors that can occur and their location, as this will directly influence their effects on female fertility. The types of fibroids are:
- Subserosal: they grow on the outer wall of the uterus so they do not usually cause symptoms or intervene with menstruation or fertility.
- Intramural : they form in the thickness of the wall of the uterus and are the most common types of fibroids. They cause an enlargement in this area and if they are greater than 3 centimeters they can increase menstrual flow.
- Submucosal: they form in the wall of the uterus and into it, they increase vaginal bleeding and pain during periods, but they can also affect the possibility of pregnancy.
Can I get pregnant if I have a fibroid?
Taking into account what we have explained above, the first thing that is important to determine is what type of fibroid you have to know if your fertility (or the possibility of getting pregnant) is compromised.
Subserosal fibroids do not affect fertility at all because they grow outside the uterus, however if you have submucosal fibroids you run the risk of being infertile because a bulge inside the uterus can block the fallopian tubes, make it difficult or impossible for the egg to implant, in addition to increasing the risk of miscarriages once pregnancy is achieved.
In the case of intramural fibroids, the most common, these can block the birth canal and lead to a cesarean section, and can also cause miscarriages and premature births because they occupy the uterus and therefore hinder the growth of the fetus within the womb. Some specialists indicate that, to become a risk, they must be larger than 5 centimeters.
In this video, Dr. Iván Montes, Gynecologist specializing in Human Reproduction at the inSer Fertility Institute, talks about fibroids and their incidence in pregnancy.
