6cm Submucosal fibroid / freeze all / FET in a year or so?

[Dexy007]

Hello, my husband and I have just have all our various tests come back. His sperm is borderline but the doctor didn't seem overly concerned (I am assuming they think ICSI would be needed in conjunction with IVF).

My results all came back either good or very good but I have a 6cm fibroid and it's the submucosal kind (i.e. where it protrudes into your uterus and distorts the shape). Googling suggests that both it's size and type mean I would need to have this removed before trying to get pregnant with IVF (but if anyone has any experience to the contrary do let me know!)

I am seeing the fertility clinic doctor again next week for a further transvaginal scan so will find out more then. However my impression from our follow-up to discuss the results was that it needs to come out asap.

My dilemma is this. The wait list for surgery is likely to be at least 9 - 12 months. I am already 34 (husband is 32) and my fertility is only going to decline in that 9 - 12 months, and then I believe you need to wait at least 3 months to try and get pregnant.

Do you think that the NHS would let you do a freeze all cycle 'now' and maybe have a FET in 12 - 18 months?

(I am not in the UK, but i am being treated in the public system where I am and just trying to get a sense of if you think this would be allowed).

@Dexy007 I'm sorry you find yourself needing fertility help. It's not where any of us hope to be.

In IVF terms you are young. I know it doesn't feel that way and I'm sure that waiting a year sounds tough but if your results are ok then I think waiting a year fertility wise is fine. It will also give you time to improve DH's sperm. Sperm can improve hugely with lifestyle and other changes so this is worth doing since you have time. Men are ignored too often in this process.

I don't know about IVF and fibroids. IVF and cysts aren't a good combo as the cyst can hog all the drugs!!! But fibroids are different. Hopefully someone else can tell you.

Is IVF free where you are? Can you consider paying privately for the op?

Best of luck x

@Dexy007 I had 3 smaller (2-3cm) fibroids removed, one submucosal. From reading I saw a few articles that suggested submucosal decrease your fertility by around 70%. I was 35 when I had my laparoscopy and now starting IVF 9 months later as I didn't get pregnant.

When looking into getting mine removed I had private health insurance with work and discovered I could get them removed on that by saying they caused painful & heavy periods. I had a 4-5 month recovery time after the op when I wasn't allowed to get pregnant due to stitches in my womb. Some submucosal are totally inside the womb, making recovery quicker due to less invasive surgery.

At 34, you might want to check a few things to inform your choices. Do you know your AMH and other blood results? If you have low AMH it would be worth looking at freezing eggs now.

If it were me and I had no issues with bloods or AMH then I would get myself on the waiting list and try naturally after the surgery for a few months also (although only 3). A 6cm submucosal is quite large (I think a womb is only about 6cms) so that could well be the cause.

That said it's worth keeping in mind, some fibroids do grow back. I had one other that they left which has gone from 1.5cm to 3 in 10 months and I might require more surgery. We're trying IVF now and if it doesn't work on the first 2 times I will probably go for another lap. So maybe follow the avenue of seeing if you can get funded IVF in parallel?

Thanks annoyingly my AMH didn't come back in time for my last appointment but the doctor said she was happy to go ahead with the appointment based on my AFC which was 30 (16 in my right and 14 in my left). I gather it's not guaranteed that your AMH levels are good if your AFC is high but chances are good which is why doctor didn't push our appointment out and insist on that final result.

FSH is 6 which I think is averagely good for my age?

All my bloods, insulin, folate etc came back fine (she didn't comment on them so don't know if they are excellent / good / just fine).

I am low on iron though apparently.

And ps yes I think this fibroid is a whopper...I gather a normal uterus is 8cm long so mine is near full length which is less than ideal!

Bump for thoughts! Would love to hear if anyone has knowledge of NHS system (or just thoughts) and knows if this would be allowed!

IVF here depends on what your CCG will pay for, so there are no set rules for what IVF treatment is provided on the NHS (unfortunately). One CCG might allow that, but others would not. For example my CCG funds 1 cycle of IVF. Others fund 3 cycles. Some fund 0.

Hi thanks for insights, since had follow up appointment and she says she is happy to do a freeze all, wait til surgery is out the way, then do a FET. she actually suggested it. So I'm really pleased as a) I'm not ready for a FET emotionally right now and b) I think the wait list for surgery is long!