Ultrasound scan & fibroids

[Hopesfor2021]

Hello,
I had a TV ultrasound today as part of my infertility investigations. The sonographer found fibroids during my TV scan. Anyone else experienced this? I’m worried about how it could impact on any potential IVF treatment I might have in 2021.

Something like 97% of fibroids will have no impact. It's the submucosal ones that might cause issue.

I have a submucosal fibroid. I'm waiting for it to be removed, which I hear is fairly straightforward. Surely they'd remove it if it was an issue for IVF?

@physicskate - that’s good to hear.
@CycleGirl20 do you mind me asking how long you have waited to have it removed? Just with my age (41) time is not on my side & I need to start my IVF treatment sooner rather than later.

@Hopesfor2021i moved house in October, which messed up my appointments. I was due to get it removed privately through my work medical cover (I said it was causing heavy and painful periods as fertility isn't covered). Unfortunately that was cancelled due to various covid related issues. I've got another appointment in January. I've not tried on the NHS.

I've got lots of fibroids, 3 are quite big but they're not in places that will cause an issue and I don't have any of the typical fibroid symptoms like heavy bleeding or pain. If they're in your uterus, they will need to be removed. All of mine are in the lining or on the outside.

Are you already under a fertility clinic? Mine were discovered in December 2018 as part of my GP investigations but I wasn't seen by the clinic until May that year. I eventually had a hysteroscopy in the December but the delay was due to a MMC unrelated to the fibroids. If I hadn't been pregnant, I'd have had that in the August. The hysteroscopy confirmed that none of the fibroids were in the uterus cavity (although they did find and remove a polyp).

@VenusStarr you've had successfully pregnancy with fibroids? I know a submucosal one needs removing, but I read that intermural ones can reduce your rate of conception notably.

No @CycleGirl20, I've had 4 losses in 18 months after nearly 18 months of no pregnancies. But the reason for my subfertility and recurrent losses is aggressive nk cells. I'm under Dr Shehata at the CRP Clinic and he isn't concerned about my fibroids at all.
I also saw an nhs gynaecologist last week as I wanted to triple check after my last loss in October and he said he doesn't want to touch them and also has no concerns about my ability to carry to term.

@VenusStarr I'm sorry to hear about your losses. Fingers crossed for you.

It's good to hear that the other fibroids are not an issue.

Removing intramural fibroids increase the risks during pregnancy, as it weakens the uterine wall and increases risk of rupture. So unless you have severe symptoms caused by them, I cannot stress how evidence shows zero connection with fertility unless they are submucosal (which is a very small percentage of fibroids indeed).

I had a 3cm intramural fibroid during my first successful pregnancy. It wasn't there during my chemicals, as clomid after those caused it to grow.

Very little evidence to suggest that intramural fibroids pose fertility risks (only found one study that suggested a possible link with fundal location, but not conclusive, suggestive at best).

Nothing was ever found as a cause of our infertility. Believe me, I WANTED it to be the fibroid, but it just wasn't. Took two and a half years to get dd (through ivf). Nothing ever found to be wrong. This was Followed by a single encounter when dd was 16 months in order to conceive her little brother...

Mine is submucosal. I'm very much hoping the month after it's gone I'll get a bfp

@VenusStarr thank you for your response. Wishing you lots of luck 😊

That’s good to know @physics Kate. I really appreciate people’s responses on here :) thank you.

I'm now fully recovered following surgery to remove a large (tennis ball sized) fibroid.

Had mine done on the NHS in Sep (South West), I was referred in July.

I'm hoping now that it's gone, I'll finally have a successful cycle.