Relationship Between Fibroids And Pregnancy

Most fibroids do not get in the way of a pregnancy. They may cause discomfort, but they generally do not cause any other problems. Some fibroids in certain areas, however, can make conception difficult or lead to miscarriage. Fibroids may press against, or block the entrance to, the fallopian tubes, thus preventing the egg from reaching the uterus. Submucous fibroids that grow inwards into the womb are thought to cause recurrent miscarriage.

A fibroid can also interfere with labour and birth if it blocks the passage to the birth canal. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend a Caesarean section. Fibroids may increase your risk of bleeding heavily after birth, and can increase the time it takes for your womb to return to its normal size.
Just as fibroids can affect pregnancy, pregnancy can affect fibroids. It is thought that fibroids grow during pregnancy because of higher levels of oestrogen, but there is little evidence to support this.

Another effect of pregnancy on fibroids is something called 'red degeneration.' This is when a fibroid’s blood supply is cut off, causing it to turn red and die. It can also happen outside of pregnancy but it usually occurs in the middle weeks of a pregnancy. Red degeneration can cause intense abdominal pains and contractions of the womb, which could lead to early labour or miscarriage. If you feel these symptoms, tell your doctor. The pain and contractions usually stop on their own but your doctor may give you drugs to ease the pain and stop the contractions more quickly.

Fibroids are never removed during a pregnancy because of the risk of haemorrhage (bleeding).