fibroids & co

[kumquat100]

Hello everyone. I am new here and this is my first post so apologies if I am posting in the wrong place/wrong format etc..!

I suppose I am just looking for some advice and reassurance that others have been through what I am going through and that it worked out ok in the end.

I am 36 (37 in a few months) and sadly was found to have a mmc last oct at 6+3 (first pregnancy). Two erpcs later I am still waiting for my period....app uss shows a thin lining. If no period in a few more weeks I will be getting checked for adhesions :-( so I feel like that problem is at least in hand for now.

The other thing that was that they found a 10cm posterior subserosal fibroid (think it has now shrunk to 8cm since mmc) I knew nothing about although am certain I can now feel it in me since knowing about it!!

I am so worried that I am now too old for having a DC and that even if I manage to fall pregnant again despite thin linings and a massive fibroid it will just end end in disaster again. Anyone out there pregnant/post delivery with big fibroids? It would really help to know that it is still possible. I do not want surgery as I have been told the risk of scarring could reduce my fertility and it is not impacting on the uterine cavity at all. I did find some old posts from mums netters that were reassuring but they are several years old mostly. Thank you for listening x

Hi, not sure if my response is relevant as I have a much smaller fibroid but nonetheless. When my fibroid was spotted I was 25, and said fibroid was just under 1 cm. I was told repeatedly by the docs both in uk and in my country of origin in Asia that I just don't need to worry at all. It wasn't positioned in a way to affect implantation of a fertilised egg.

I am just turned 30 and 2 months pregnant. Our scan at 2 months showed baby fine and ok, but fibroid had tripled in size! Again I was told not an issue at all, high Estrogen makes it grow in pregnancy. For what it's worth, the fibroid didn't get in the way of conception, as we conceived first month of trying.

So everyone, including three sonographersm, two GPS and one gynaecologist have said don't worry. Now whether a larger fibroid is a problem I wouldn't know but it seems it's widely held that fibroids don't usually cause problems. Maybe you could ask the docs whether it's positioning means a problem?

I agree that you should ask your doc whether it could have an affect on conception due to it's size. I had one fibroid I was aware of with my first pregnancy, and it was 4.5cm. I was told it was nothing to worry about at all in terms of conception - and when I asked about having it removed (as it was causing me period type pain a lot) I was told the same as you, that whilst I was still trying for a baby that it was best to leave it. Scar tissue left behind from removal is more liking to cause problems in conception than the fibroid itself.

In my first pregnancy it did mean that I was consultant led, as they can cause a higher risk of hemorrhage after labour, but it had no impact on my labour itself. I was scanned more regularly during my pregnancy as they want to keep an eye on their position and to ensure they are not obstructing the path out! During my pregnancy it grew to over 10cam and I also had 2 more, both around 4cm each.

I'm now pregnant with my second, and whilst I am currently consultant led, the one fibroid they can see is so small that if there is no change at my 36 week scan, I will be signed off from consultant care.

With regards to your age, I turned 38 just after my first was born and I'm currently 39, pregnant with number 2, so I certainly don't consider you too old to have children!

ps - the only reason I think you should ask your doc is for reassurance. The fact that it is not impacting on the uterine cavity at all would lead me to think it shouldn't have any affect at all, based on my experience but I'm not medical and a doctors reassurance may help you relax more about the chances of falling pregnant.

Hello! I have fibroids and am currently 15+3. It took me a very regular 6 months to get pregnant, and although the fibroids have grown, they're not getting in the way of the baby. As I understand it, subserosal fibroids (the sort I also have) are the ones that grow out from the uterus so are less likely to get in the way of a growing baby.

Thank you ladies. It just helps knowing that I am not that unusual I suppose..! I was told my fibroid is not affecting fertility (which makes sense given the fact it is stuck on the outside and I did manage to conceive). I am just worried about how big it was so early on - if I was lucky enough to fall pregnant again and the pregnancy was continuing - lordy knows what size the thing would be by the end (and seeing it is stuck on the back I am not sure where it will expand to!).Hhave read somewhere though that they grow most in the first trimester?
It is all just what ifs at the moment seeing I am still recovering from my mc but am worried about the risk in a future pregnancy and wanted to see what other folks experiences was. Mixed messages from lots of specialists..some would remove it and some would leave it. I would prob need a c section in the future as it is near cervix, but then again one would need a c section after a myomectomy anyway and seeing these horrid things grow back app I am not keen on surgery now seeing it gives me few symptoms!
Good luck with all your pregnancies and thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It does help. x

I'm 37 and currently 21 weeks pregnant after a miscarriage. I also have at least one big fibroid, and was told it will have no effect on fertility, just makes it harder to see the baby at early scans. :)

That is so lovely to hear. Thank you so much for posting and best of luck for the remainder of your pregnancy!

How big is your fibroid? was it big pre pregnancy as well?

I honestly don't know! I never knew I had it until I had a scan at 10 weeks - the sonographer mentioned that it made it very hard to see. I think she said it was 7cm, but I didn't really take much note. She did say that pregnancy is often good for fibroids, and can cause fewer to develop. My mum has had surgery for her fibroids, so I'm not at all surprised to find that I have them too, they're very common.

This might be a bit late but I was told I had a fibroid during my first pregnancy (34) and that it wouldn't affect anything as it is out the way.

Since then I had an mc last year but am now 25 weeks pregnant. The fibroid is still there but no one is concerned about it and it is not even being monitored. I am also 36 turning 37 in a few months so I would try not to worry about that side of things.

hello there, just to say it took us a long time to conceive (15/16months) but i have two subserosal fibroids and I'm at 19 weeks, aged 37 and first pregnancy. One of the fibroids doubled in size from 5cm to 10cm from pre preg to 14 weeks, I have no idea how big it is now (although I can feel it) but I have my anomaly scan next week so I'll find out I guess. I was also told it wouldn't affect fertility... Good luck!

Thanks guys. My lumpy uterus feels less unique - which is good! I have not had a period since my mmc back in oct 2014 and have had 1 erpc and one hysteroscopy for rpoc - all looked fine app, no scar tissue etc and docs have no idea why my lining is still thin and AF not turning up (like clockwork before pregnancy) :-( Suddenly the fibroid problem has taken a back step.

I successfully delivered twice despite three fibroids, one quite large (and I was in my 40s). One of the smaller ones 'deteriorated' as they charmingly call it (i.e. disintegrated) during my second pregnancy which was very painful but otherwise caused no issues at all .

All my health care providers were pretty relaxed about them. So be reassured from all these posts you don't need to take it as read that fibroid=fertility or gestation problems. But ultimately, you need specific advice on your individual uterus.

It is really lovely to hear all these positive stories. Thank you for sharing. I have just lurched from one disaster to the next since the miscarriage, with my dad being very poorly, my little dog dying suddenly the night before my second operation, the fibroid, my periods not returning etc so I just need to know that all this too shall pass and that fibroids are not necessarily going to put an end to my dream in the long run. The advice also seems quite conflicting from 'I would operate' to 'I would not' so nice to hear some real life stories from other, also 'more mature' ladies :-)

Keep 'em coming!