What are the Risks of Fibroids During Pregnancy?

Uterine fibroids are usually discovered during an annual pelvic exam.

Uterine fibroids are large masses of tissue cells from the uterus that may range in size from a few centimeters to 15 centimeters or more. Most women with fibroids who become pregnant have normal, healthy pregnancies without any complications, according to WomensHealth.gov.

Types of Fibroids

Submucosal fibroids grow in the uterine cavity, intramural fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus, subserosal fibroids grow outside the uterus and pedunculated fibroids grow on stalks that grow out from the uterine surface or into the uterine cavity.

Risk Factors

Women between the ages of 20 and 50 are at increased risk for developing fibroids, as well as African-American women, women with family members who suffered from fibroids, those who eat large amounts of red meat and obese women. Additionally, fibroids may grow rapidly during pregnancy due to increased hormone levels.

Pregnancy Risks

Minor complications during pregnancy include light spotting and pelvic pain. For some women, fibroids during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, preterm labor, obstructed labor if the fibroid is in the birth canal, fetal malpresentations such as the breech position, cesarean section, placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhaging.

Symptoms

Detecting fibroids during pregnancy can be tricky because of the similarity of symptoms to those of pregnancy. Symptoms can include back pain, constipation or bloating, pain in the legs and pelvic pain or pressure.

Treatment

Treatment for fibroids is usually postponed until after delivery. Treatment options are dependent upon the severity of the individual clinical circumstance but may include surgical removal of the fibroids, medication to shrink the fibroids, ablation of the fibroids or a hysterectomy.

References

• Womens Health
• Pregnancy Info