Fibroids over 40 + TTC...

[Smee]

Best friend has just suffered an early miscarriage. They scanned and found a large fibroid (6cm). She knows that that fibroid didn't cause the miscarriage, but due to its size has been told that probably it's best to get it removed before she tries to get pregnant again. Has anyone got any experience on this? She's read that the drugs she'd have to take to shrink the fibroid would decrease her fertility. She's 41, so obviously time is of the essence. I'd really like to help her and find something positive to tell her, but haven't found much of use so far.

bump. anyone...?!

A 12x10cm fibroid was found on my 12 week scan 2 years ago. I'd had no previous symptoms or seeming difficulty in conceiving (approx 6 months after coming off Pill at 37). It didn't get any bigger and presumably it's still there the same size as I get no problems with it. I had a normal vaginal delivery, though I know that if the fibroids are lower down it can mean that a CS may be necessary. If removal is being recommended, why would she need to take drugs to reduce its size? I'd suggest it may be useful for your friend to request more detailed information from her consultant so that she has all the facts required.

I also found googling 'fibroids in pregnancy' or similar brought up quite few useful websites when I was looking for information initially if that's of any help.

I had a myomectomy in March '05 at which they removed 8 fibroids, one of which was 20 cm across...and now have a 17 month old DD

I was 33 at the time..but I conceived easily afterwards and the fibroids have not grown back.

And re the drugs..they try to shrink them as much as possible before surgery as they have a large blood supply and the smaller they are a) the easier they are to remove with a smaller incision and b) the less blood could be lost.

ALso..the drugs only shrink fertility while you are on them, it returns quickly afterwards, ie after the operation.

Big congrats to you both and thank you for replying.
HCTG, how long did you have to be on the drugs for before the Mymectomy?
+Mejon, I think they have to shrink the fibroid to make it less of an operation, which does make sense, but does anyone know how big they have to be before they decide to operate. She's been told it's better if she gets hers taken away before she tries again, but if a fibroid as big as Mejon's can share a womb, am wondering why she's been told that. Especially as she's already over 40, so time's not exactly on her side. Anybody got any wisdom on that?

I think I was on them for 3 months. The decision to remove a fibroid or not depends on where it is in the womb and how much it would interfere with implantation/pregnancy. I was lucky that mine were on the outside of the womb, I know smaller ones on the inside can cause problems.

If an embryo tries to implant in area of fibroid, it could get in the way...I'm guessing...so although fibroids and babies can coexist in womb, location of fibroid might decide on whether baby starts in first place, IYSWIM.

My sympathies to your friend, having TTCd both my dds in my 40s, its no picnic - lots of pressure, and early m/cs, unfortunately, not uncommon.

Exactly..mine were distorting my womb so that no implantation could take place.

oh my. so complicated. Thanks Elibean. I haven't a clue where the fibroid is.

• HCTG, reassuring to hear that the drugs work quite quickly. Hopefully she can get a good consultant and speed through it all. What was the myomectomy like? Can't have been pleasant.

It was a very hard recovery and very painful..but its the best thing I ever did even if I hadn't had my DD!

I underwent fertility treatment when they found a 5 cm fibroid. I was advised not to remove it, as it can cause scarring, which may impact my fertility. I got pregnant a couple of weeks later, and DS is now over one year old. I still have the fibroid....As one of the pp said, it depends whether the fibroid is in the womb, if so, it can act like a coil - turning the womb into a hostile environment for any embryos. Hormones during pregnancy and breast-feeding after will shrink it anyway.

But I had a 10 inch incision which is highly unlikely for a 6cm fibroid, which can maybe even be removed by keyhole or vaginal surgery.

PhDiva - why did you go for the fertility treatment? Was it linked to the fibroid?
With my friend, another factor is that the fibroid's causing her other problems - eg: before she found she was pregnant she was found to be massively anaemic through heavy periods due to it, etc. Also, the fibroid grew even bigger as soon as she was pregnant. Apparently that's common as the pregnancy hormones kickstart its growth. All sounds horrendous. Have to say, I feel v.lucky to not have the same problem.

No, our fertility was male factor. Of course you are right - the fibroid grows during pregnancy, and sometimes it is a worry whether the fibroid will steal blood supply from the womb, especially if the placenta plants itself over the same spot. My fibroid does give me insanely heavy and painful periods too. In fact it caused trouble during my pregnancy in that when I overdid things a bit around 22 weeks, I began to have pre-term contractions, as the womb was irritated by the fibroid. It really is a tough call for your friend, but she should know that plenty of women carry babies to term successfully with fibroids - in fact 1 in 3 women are said to have them, some causing no symptoms whatsoever.

(I have a theory that the number of women with fibroids is so high in Western countries because of the oestrogen levels in the tap water from all the women on the pill peeing into the water supply that gets recycled - fibroids feed off oestrogen. Apparently oestrogen is the one thing they can't filter out).

Thanks PhDiva. Sounds like all she can do is hotfoot it to the best consultant she can find and get lots of advice. Wish I had a crystal ball for her (or could knock 10 years off her age..)Good to know that you got through though.
And I like your theory. It's so simple and logical that it's probably true.