Uterine fibroids are a mass of muscle tissue that attaches itself to the wall of the uterus. They are benign tumors that feed on the tissue from the uterine wall and require estrogen and a blood supply to continue to grow and develop. These fibroid tumors can be as small as a pea or they can grow to the size of a grapefruit or larger.
The hormones that are prevalent during pregnancy can cause a fibroid tumor to grow larger. Estrogen especially, can feed a fibroid, causing it to double or even triple in size. Some women have fibroids which are more sensitive to progesterone than estrogen.
Having a fibroid tumor during pregnancy does not impact the health and welfare of the baby. But your doctor does need to monitor you closely for any signs of abnormality during the pregnancy that can be caused by another growth in the uterus with your child. The tumor can stretch the uterus abnormally large, press on surrounding abdominal organs or spinal nerves, or cause an increase in pain and discomfort for the mother.
A fibroid tumor can increase the risk of miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes, if the fertilized egg implants itself near a fibroid tumor, the tumor will take the nourishment that is needed for the fetus and cause the baby to die, resulting in a miscarriage.
A fibroid tumor can cause premature labor in some cases. Your doctor will monitor you carefully for any signs of impending labor. Some of the symptoms of premature labor will include frequent urination, pelvic pain or back pain, vaginal bleeding and cramps that feel similar to menstrual cramps.
In some cases, the presence of a fibroid tumor will make a cesarean section necessary. In rare cases, the tumor will grow large enough to obstruct the birth canal, making a vaginal delivery impossible.
There has been little evidence of a fibroid tumor causing damage to a baby. But a fibroid tumor can make a pregnant mother look like she is having twins or even triplets.
Fibroid tumors are not removed during pregnancy because of the risk of bleeding to the mother and the lack of risk to the baby if they remain in place. Many times, after the mother delivers, the tumor will shrink spontaneously because high levels of estrogen and progesterone are no longer present in the woman’s body.
If the tumor does not shrink after childbirth, a woman may undergo surgery or other types of treatment to shrink the fibroid tumor.
It is also interesting to note that some women with large fibroid tumors will have a difficult time getting pregnant. In these cases, removing or shrinking the tumor will solve the infertility issue. This may be the result of structural difficulties, such as a lack of area in the uterus for the baby to implant, or may be from hormonal imbalances.
If you have fibroid tumors and are thinking about getting pregnant, discuss your options with your doctor. He may want to remove the tumors first before you try to become pregnant. You should also be aware that even if the fibroid tumors are removed, they can come back in a few years.
If you do find yourself pregnant and you know that you have fibroid tumors, see your doctor right away. Depending upon the location of the tumors and the size of the tumors, you may be considered a high risk pregnancy.
Most women with fibroid tumors are able to have a close to normal pregnancy and a healthy, full term baby. Just remember to take good care of yourself, see your doctor on a regular basis and try not to worry.
Resources:
Review in Obstetric and Gynecology: Contemporary Management of Fibroids in Pregnancy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876319/
Parents: Fibroids During Pregnancy
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/complications/health-and-safety-issues/fibroids-during-pregnancy/
Myoma: Fibroids and Pregnancy
http://www.myoma.co.uk/pregnancy.html
Uterine-Fibroids: How do Uterine Fibroids Affect Pregnancy
http://www.uterine-fibroids.org/pregnancy.html
BabyCenter: Black women and pregnancy with Fibroids
http://www.babycenter.com/0_black-women-and-pregnancy-fibroids_10326261.bc
Fibroid Treatment Collective: Fibroids and Pregnancy
http://www.fibroids.com/images/media/fibroids-and-pregnancy.pdf
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