TTC with large 10cm fibroid

[Apple78]

Hi.
Starting a new thread as couldn't find anything very recent on this. Have been ttc for 7 months now since my miscarriage at 8 weeks in July last year.

I knew I had a large fibroid (10cm) before ttc but my GP and consultant advised that it should not affect my chances of conceiving due to the location (on the outside of the uterus right on top). They said it could cause pain during pregnancy but was unlikely to harm the baby.

Since the mc I have been getting some pain from fibroid, mainly first thing in the morning but it soon goes away when I get moving. However, we haven't had any success with conceiving and I'm wondering whether we were just lucky the first time (it happened the first month of trying) or whether something could be wrong. My periods have become longer and heavier but the consultant I'm seeing says a fibroid on the outside of the uterus should not affect my periods.

The consultant is keen to whip out the fibroid as she says it would make a pregnancy more comfortable. All along I've been keen to avoid surgery due to the risk of heavy bleeding which could lead to an emergency hysterectomy. I know this is very unlikely but it scares me as we desperately want to start a family. The other option is embolisation where they block off the blood supply to the fibroid, but I've read that this isn't normally recommended for women who want to retain their fertility. My consultant, however, thinks it's a viable option and has suggested we look at a combined approach of embolisation to cut off the blood supply and then surgery to take the fibroid out. She did admit that as a surgeon she always prefers the surgery option, so I feel like she isn't really considering the full picture. It all seems drastic to me as the fibroid is more of a nuisance than anything else. I can live with it (although it does make me self conscious as my tummy is quite big).

I've heard of the newish drug, Esmya, which is used to shrink fibroids before surgery and see it's now licenced for women to take intermittently to manage fibroids. Has anyone tried taking this prior to ttc and did it work?

I really can't decide what to do and would be grateful if anyone could share their experiences if they've been in a similar situation.
Thanks.

Hi Hopeful

Just seen your update and wanted to say a huge congratulations on your BFP! That's amazing news and so good to hear after everything you've been through. Keeping everything crossed for you that it all goes well. I bet you can't believe it!

I'm still TTC to no avail and have had more scans and tests. My fibroid hasn't grown, which is something, but it's already massive anyway! I'm having a HSG soon to see if it's leaning on my tubes, which I fear it might be. I keep being told by the consultants that it shouldn't be impacting on my fertility because of where it is, but as the months go by I believe them less.

Anyway, so happy to hear your good news.

Wishing you all the best for your op, too Apple, really hope it all goes well and that you feel much better for it once you've recovered.

Hi Bacon,

Thank you for your lovely message.

I'm glad to hear your fibroid hasn't grown and I completely understand what you mean about worrying about the impacts on fertility. Hopefully the others tests can provide some reassurance.

So I did another frer in the early hours this morning and it is fainter than Mondays but CB is still showing 1-2 weeks but then my Clear blue advance monitor is now saying I'm not when It showed a definite on Monday.
I'm not sure I might be having a miscarriage I have absolutely no idea need to try and not test an remain calm!

Nice to hear from you.

Sorry Hopeful, I've just seen your message.

Sorry to hear the tests are leaving you confused/worried. If CB test is still showing 1-2 weeks then that's good. Try and focus on that outcome. Try to remain calm, as you say, and just take each day as it comes. Perhaps leave it a few days if you can and then test again for peace of mind.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Hi Bacon,

Thank you for your message. Unfortunately I’ve had a very early miscarriage.I’m now bleeding and all tests are showing negative. I feel very flat now it’s all over but In another way though I’m glad I can get a BFP.

Hope you are okay.

Hi Hopeful,

I'm so sorry - I have only just seen your post! I don't seem to be getting alerts and assumed I would if there'd been a reply.
I am so sorry for your loss, I really hope you're feeling okay and that it was too awful.
As you say, it's good to know that you can get a BFP and there is nothing to say that it won't happen again very soon for you.

Sending you lots of luck for another BFP.

Hi Bacon,

Thank you for your message very sweet of you.
I'm okay, I was keeping positive that it would happen again quite quickly because they say your more fertile after miscarriage but AF arrived today, on day 29 instead of 27 which is my usual cycle.

I'm trying to stay positive but at 36 I wan't to know it can happen!

How are you? are you having any treatment for fibroid?

Apple - hoping your op went well would really like to hear how you are, hope all is okay.

How are you ladies, hope you are all okay.

Hi Hopeful

Thanks for keeping this thread alive!
I'm okay thank you. Still TTC without any luck and still incubating a huge fibroid! Had several scans and bloods etc done over the past six months and have been referred to a fertility clinic for more investigations and potentially IVF. So far everyone has said it's not the fibroid causing the problem, but I have my doubts. It's all just so frustrating and disheartening. Just trying hard to stay positive as the months go by (and the older I get!).

How are you getting on? Really hope things have been better at your end .

x

Hi
Not sure if you are still reading this thread but thought I would add my experience. I had several fibriods, and they were not able to surgically remove them and not impact fertility. I took a course of Esmya and fell pregnant very soon after and my LO is now 1 year old. I think the pregnancy improved my fibriods as symptoms have improve and we are now trying for another baby. I would certainly be an advocate for Esmya

Hi all

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back on here!

Hopeful, I'm really sorry to hear of your loss and I hope you get a BFP very soon.

Bacon, I'm sorry you haven't had a BFP yet but keep going. I know it's not easy but I think if you can stay positive it will help.

I am fully recovered from my op now and feeling so much better. I'm really glad I had the op, but the fibroid was really impacting on my life so it was definitely time to do something about it. I was in hospital for a week but I wouldn't say it was really painful - more just uncomfortable. Unfortunately the embolisation wasn't very successful so I bled a lot during the surgery to remove the fibroid, but the surgeon did a brilliant job. I had to have a vertical cut but it healed well. I was off work for almost three months but the time went really quickly. At first I was mostly sleeping all the time anyway.

My stomach was flat straight away after the op and I felt like I should have done it sooner. I feel so much more confident going out and about now. My periods are also much shorter and lighter which is great! I realise now how much I was putting up with before.

I am waiting for a follow up scan/appointment to check everything looks ok and then we should be able to get on with TTC!

Thanks for keeping the thread going. It's lovely to hear from you. x