Fibroids in Pregnancy

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 | Unknown at 7:31 PM |

Fibroid tumors are a mass of fibrous tissue or compacted muscle which appears on the uterus and most often develops in women throughout the reproductive years and disappears or shrinks after the menopause. Group by location, the basic types of fibroids consist of the most common intramural fibroid which appears on the uterine wall, the subserosal fibroid which attach to the outer surface of the uterus and can give a bulging appearance on the skin, and the most uncommon submucosal fibroid which grows on the inner surface of the uterus. These growths are benign and result in no visible symptoms, although in a small amount of cases, the fibroid tumors might cause a degree of discomfort which can include abdominal pain, frequent urination and heavy-bleeding. Although, having fibroids isn't known to cause any significant problems or complications to a woman who is expecting a child.

Pregnancy is often seen to have an uncertain effect on pre-existing fibroid tumors, although more often than not the fibroids aren't seen to grow in size throughout the term of a pregnancy. Noticeable effects on the fibroids during pregnancy often depend on a person's individual genetics and the amount and type of growth factors which are witnessed in the bloodstream. Ultrasound studies conducted on pregnant women indicate that approx. 65% of those women saw no increased growth in the size of pre-existing fibroid tumors for the duration of the pregnancy. For the remaining 35%, if the fibroids did show signs of increasing in size, this was almost always noticed within the first three months of pregnancy. And in nearly all cases, the fibroid tumors were seen to shrink significantly after giving birth.

Even if a woman does experience noticeable symptoms relating to the fibroid tumors, it doesn't in most cases affect the baby. However, the risk of a premature birth or miscarriage is known to slightly increase for those with fibroids. Problems associated with fibroids includes the potential to slow labor due to the tissue mass blocking the baby's passage and on occasion results in the baby being in the wrong delivery position.

However, throughout the demanding period of pregnancy, a woman who has one or more fibroids should visit their physician if any signs of pain are noticed. Often pain medication, heat, and bed rest are prescribed, while in some situations a need to prescribe medication to help inhibit premature labor might also be required.