Can uterine fibroids get pregnant?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Chien - Reproductive Support Center, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
"Can uterine fibroids get pregnant?" This is a question that many people with uterine fibroids have during pregnancy. The following article will help answer all of the above questions.

1. What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are growths of the uterine muscle parenchyma. Fibroids are formed when a smooth muscle cell divides many times and grows into a solid mass that separates from the rest of the uterus.

Fibroids often enlarge when estrogen in the body is high. Especially during pregnancy.

2. Uterine fibroids can cause some dangerous complications

2.1. Severe stomach pain

This symptom is more common in young women. As the tumor grows into the uterus, it makes the fibroid more prone to twisting. Thereby, hindering the blood circulation to the organs. Stagnant blood cannot circulate, causing the tumor to grow larger and larger if not operated in time, the fluid will accumulate, causing the tumor to cause infection, poisoning, ...

When the tumor is twisted, patients often have symptoms of abdominal pain, pain in the lower abdomen. The pain gradually increases, the duration of pain will be shortened, accompanied by vomiting, causing the patient to be hospitalized. Uterine fibroids cause pain when the tumor grows so fast that the blood supply to the tumor is not enough compared to the demand, leading to the tumor necrosis causing pain.

2.2. Dysmenorrhea, urination

Tumors located outside the uterus cause pressure on the bladder causing the patient to urinate frequently. Some women may experience urinary retention or difficulty urinating.
Tumors growing below inside the uterus can cause pressure on the rectum, making women prone to constipation and pain every time they have a bowel movement.

2.3. Polyp formation

In severe cases, the tumor can form polyps that retract into the vagina, causing the patient to bleed a lot and feel pain and burning when having sex.
2.4. Affects fertility Uterine fibroids can deform the frame of the uterus, causing blocked or semi-obstructed fallopian tubes, causing delayed pregnancy or infertility.

3. Can uterine fibroids get pregnant?

People with uterine fibroids can completely get pregnant in the following cases:
The tumor is less than 50mm in size and there are no typical symptoms of uterine fibroids, the patient can completely get pregnant normal mangrove. However, pregnant women need to be closely monitored throughout pregnancy. After childbirth, the following tumor can be treated. In some cases, due to hormonal changes, a woman's body also changes a lot from the inside after going through pregnancy and childbirth. The tumor may shrink after birth for a while, making it easier to remove.
Tumor over 50mm or less than 50mm but have symptoms, complications of uterine fibroids, need to remove the tumor before pregnancy. Patients can have a normal pregnancy after 1 year from the date of cesarean section. Pregnancy should not be too early to avoid the uterus not recovering after surgery will cause many risks of miscarriage.
In case women have dysmenorrhea, it will be difficult to remove the tumor, making the treatment take a long time and the pregnancy rate is very low.
When the tumor is getting bigger, it will change the endometrium, making it difficult for the egg to implant. At the same time, uterine fibroids can block the fallopian tubes or cover the uterine opening, preventing the egg and sperm from meeting each other, which also reduces the ability to conceive.
However, you should still consult with your doctor to decide whether to get pregnant during this period or not because during pregnancy if the tumor is large, it will cause many disadvantages for both mother and child.

4. Uterine fibroids and problems to note

When you still decide to take risks to get pregnant, you may face the following risks:
4.1. Risk to the mother Miscarriage is caused by the tumor compressing the uterine cavity, causing the uterine cavity to not grow or because the endometrial layer is not fully developed. Causes premature birth by uterine fibroids causing placental attachment and abnormal fetal position. Difficulty giving birth due to disordered contractions. The low-lying tumor also interferes with the birth of the baby. The large tumor compresses, causing women to choose the method of cesarean section. In case the mother has placenta previa, she must have a caesarean section. Hemorrhage when bleeding vegetables. If not detected in time, it can endanger the life of both mother and child. Possible complications: torsion of fibroids with stalks or torsion of the whole uterus with fibroids. May cause urinary tract abnormalities due to the bladder being pulled up. Necrotic infection caused by anaerobic bacteria in the postpartum period.

4.2. Risks to the baby: There is a risk of malnutrition and low birth weight because the blood of the fetus must be partially divided to feed the uterine fibroids.

5. So how to treat uterine fibroids?

Depending on the location and size of the tumor, the doctor will have an appropriate treatment method.
5.1. Medical treatment: Using drugs Drugs to treat uterine fibroids are actually sex hormones that inhibit ovulation. At that time, the ovaries will temporarily not secrete estrogen, causing the loss of the source of the cretinism, causing the tumor to shrink. However, this is only a temporary method and only applies to small or large tumors awaiting surgery or contraindicating surgical intervention. Because, after stopping the drug, the ovaries will work again and will stimulate the tumor to continue to grow.
5.2. Embolization is essentially blocking the arteries that feed the uterine fibroids. This method is only applicable to vascular tumors. However, this method requires anesthesia and has the risk of blocking the blood supply branches to the ovaries or areas of healthy uterine muscle. Therefore, it is only suitable for patients who have had enough children or do not want to have children anymore.
5.3. Surgery Fibroid surgery is indicated in case the tumor causes complications such as: Menorrhagia, prolonged bleeding, pain, frequent urination or no results of medical treatment. Depending on the patient's condition and needs, laparoscopic surgery (5cm 10cm has pressure on the uterine cavity or the tumor causes bleeding). ).
In addition, it should be considered that if the patient is young and wants to have children, only fibroid removal surgery to maintain female sex hormones. Ovarian ablation is only for patients who are postmenopausal or experiencing dangerous complications.
5.4. Non-surgical method FUS-MRI Using high-intensity localized ultrasound to create a thermal effect to burn target cells under localization control by magnetic resonance imaging. This is an advanced fibroid treatment that removes abnormal target tissue from the body without surgery. Does not cause bleeding, does not leave scars, does not affect reproductive health, helps preserve the uterus with high accuracy. Only 3 to 4 hours the patient can return to activities.
Uterine fibroids are a common disease in women and it is completely possible to get pregnant. However, if not detected and treated promptly, it will affect the reproductive health of women.
Despite being a benign disease, complications of uterine fibroids are still possible and have serious consequences for women's health. Therefore, periodic reproductive health examination is very necessary, both to help detect early and reduce the possibility of complications of uterine fibroids, and also to protect women from other gynecological diseases. Vinmec International General Hospital offers a package of gynecological examination and screening for female customers, with no age limit.
When registering for the Basic Gynecological Examination and Screening Package, customers will receive:
Specialized gynecological examination Transvaginal ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries Transvaginal ultrasound of the breasts Tests such as: Treponema pallidum rapid test, Chlamydia rapid test, taking samples for cervical-vaginal cytology, bacterioscopic staining (female vaginal fluid), HPV genotype PCR automated system, Total urinalysis by automatic machine .

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.