Uterine fibroids: an obstacle to successful IVF?
January 29, 2021
Uterine fibroma, also called myoma, is a benign tumor that forms in the myometrium and uterine tissue. It is the most common tumor in women. According to statistics, one in three women of childbearing age has a uterine myoma. How can it affect pregnancy and the successful outcome of IVF?
It is important to know that there are several types of myoma :
- Intramural myoma: the fibroid develops inside the uterine wall.
- The submucosal myoma: the fibroid develops inside the uterine cavity and deforms it. It can thus create obstacles to the implantation of the embryo and the smooth running of the pregnancy. Submucosal myomatous fibroids require IVF and increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Sub-serous myoma: the fibroid develops on the outer wall of the uterus.
- Cervical myoma: the fibroid develops on the wall of the cervix.
Uterine fibroids: what are the symptoms?
Very often the uterine myoma is asymptomatic and does not bother the patient. The diagnosis is then made during an ultrasound scan.
If the fibroid is large or develops inside the uterus, the myoma may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- heavy and prolonged menstruation (more than 7 days), the appearance of blood clots;
- pelvic pain;
- a feeling of pressure and gravity in the pelvis;
- back and leg pain;
- pain during sexual intercourse;
- increased frequency of urination due to pressure on the bladder;
- constipation due to abdominal distension.
How do uterine fibroids affect IVF?
Studies show that intramural fibroids up to 4-5 cm do not affect the effectiveness of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. However, larger tumors should be removed before IVF, as they have a negative impact on the occurrence of pregnancy.
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