Can Uterine Fibroids Affect Fertility?
You have been experiencing some potential symptoms of uterine fibroids, so you decide to visit your doctor.
Unfortunately, she confirms your suspicions.
You have uterine fibroids.
Now you are wondering…Can uterine fibroids affect fertility?
In this guide, you will find the answer to that question and many more.
I will help you understand what uterine fibroids are, how they affect your fertility, and what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
- What Are Uterine Fibroids?
- How Common Are Uterine Fibroids?
- Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
- Can Fibroids Prevent You From Getting Pregnant?
- What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant With Uterine Fibroids?
- Can Uterine Fibroids Affect Fertility and Pregnancy? Science Answers the “How?”
- Natural Treatments That You Can Do at Home to Help With Uterine Fibroids and Fertility
- How to Use Chiavaye While You Help Heal Your Body
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
A uterine fibroid, also known as a myoma, is a noncancerous growth within the uterus.
Uterine fibroids rarely develop into cancer, but they can cause some other complications.
Sometimes the fibroid is so small the human eyes cannot even detect it. Other times they grow so large that they expand the uterus.
How Common Are Uterine Fibroids?
It is not uncommon to develop uterine fibroids. In fact, roughly 20% of women have them.
While uterine fibroids affect all women, Black women are 50-80% more likely to contract them, according to a study done by Johns Hopkins.
They are common in women roughly 15-50 years old.
Similar to uterine fibroids, endometriosis affects about 10-20% of women.
Both of these conditions have some symptoms in common such as:
- Fatigue
- Heavy bleeding during menstruation or in between cycles
- Extreme pelvic pain and cramping
- Infertility
If you find yourself experiencing endometriosis symptoms, consider talking with your doctor to create a plan for the next steps.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
When someone has uterine fibroids, they might experience a wide variety of symptoms such as:
- Pelvic pain and/or pressure
- Prolonged menstrual periods that last longer than 1 week
- Heavy bleeding
- Frequent urination/difficulty fully emptying the bladder
- Backaches
- Leg pain
- Constipation
Can Fibroids Prevent You From Getting Pregnant?
While it’s not certain that you’ll experience infertility if you have uterine fibroids, the truth is …
… Yes, fibroids can prevent you from getting pregnant.
From blocking the sperm from accessing the egg, to making it difficult for the embryo to implant in the uterus, uterine fibroids can make conceiving more difficult.
What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant With Uterine Fibroids?
Even if you have uterine fibroids, your chances of getting pregnant naturally are still very high.
Most women are able to conceive with little to no treatment. However, about 10-30% of women find conceiving with fibroids to be difficult.
It has been discovered that only about 5-10% of women who struggle to conceive have fibroids.
Despite the potential difficulties that come with conceiving when you have uterine fibroids, there are some simple things, such as changing your diet, that you can do to help increase your chances of conception.
Can Uterine Fibroids Affect Fertility and Pregnancy? Science Answers the “How?”
Yes — Having uterine fibroids can affect your fertility and your ability to carry a pregnancy to term.
Although many women with uterine fibroids have uneventful conceptions and pregnancies, there are some potential complications you should be aware of.
Uterine Fibroids Can Determine Whether Sperm and an Egg Will Meet
Having fibroids in the uterus can actually affect whether or not the sperm are able to reach the eggs.
When someone has large fibroids near the cervix, it can alter the shape and size of the cervix’s opening.
If the cervix cannot open wide enough, this may stop sperm from entering through it, thus preventing pregnancy.
Fibroids can also affect the shape and size of the fallopian tubes.
If these become blocked, the sperm will be unable to attach to the egg, even if it gets through the cervix.
Uterine Fibroids Can Determine if the Embryo Is Able to Implant
After the sperm and egg meet and combine in the fallopian tube, the fertilized egg (now called a zygote) travels into the uterus and, in a healthy pregnancy, implants into the uterine wall.
Uterine fibroids about 4 centimeters and larger (a little smaller than a lime) that have implanted into the muscle of the uterus can make this process very difficult, if not impossible.
If the embryo cannot implant, the pregnancy will end.
Additionally, it is possible that a sperm cell was able to travel through the fallopian tube, past a fibroid, but is blocked on the way out, thus preventing the embryo from reaching the uterus.
Uterine Fibroids Can Determine if and How Long a Pregnancy Will Continue
When fibroids are present in the uterus, the chances of miscarriage do go up.
There a couple of different ways that uterine fibroids could cause the pregnancy to end:
Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches, completely or partially, from the uterine wall.
When this happens, the baby is not able to get the oxygen that it needs and this can result in miscarriage.
This can also be incredibly dangerous to the mother because heavy bleeding often accompanies placental abruption.
When uterine fibroids are present, the chance of going into labor early rises.
There are ways for doctors to slow down labor until the baby is fully developed and even babies born early can still lead healthy lives.
Fibroids rely on the body’s resources to grow and contain blood vessels, just like the rest of the body.
Larger fibroids contain more blood vessels.
Fibroids with a higher blood vessel count take more blood from the uterus and the developing baby.
This depletion of blood can cause a miscarriage.
Uterine Fibroids Can Affect Growth and Positioning of a Baby
When uterine fibroids are present in the womb, they can affect how your baby grows and how it positions itself to prepare for labor.
Women with uterine fibroids are six times more likely to require a C-section.
If you have fibroids while pregnant, there is a chance that the baby will not develop correctly. This can be due to the limited space and other factors.
After birth, the doctor should analyze your baby’s health and step in where needed.
Natural Treatments That You Can Do at Home to Help With Uterine Fibroids and Fertility
Anytime you have a health concern, especially when pregnant, it is important to seek professional medical care from your doctor.
However, while under your doctor’s care, there are some things you can do to help alleviate fibroid symptoms.
Just remember to always consult your doctor before beginning any type of diet, exercise routine, vitamin regime, or other health-related change.
Some things you can do to help alleviate some uterine fibroid symptoms are:
- Weight loss - Fat cells produce estrogen which can lead to uterine fibroids.
- Change your diet (Check out my endometriosis diet that is designed to keep those estrogen levels where they should be).
- Take supplements - Vitamins B-6, E, and B-1, along with omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium can help with any symptoms you might be experiencing.
- Monitor your blood pressure - According to this study, high blood pressure can possibly be linked to uterine fibroids.
- Use a personal moisturizer - Fibroids can cause discomfort in many ways, including painful sex. Using a personal moisturizer/lubricant can help reduce that discomfort.
How to Use Chiavaye While You Help Heal Your Body
When I discovered how horrible most personal moisturizers are for your body, and that they could increase endometriosis symptoms, I created an all-natural, vegan, healthy personal moisturizer and lubricant called Chiaveye.
Chiaveye is made with just 6 good-for-you ingredients:
- Sunflower Seed Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Almond Oil
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Vitamin E
Not only does Chiaveye not aggravate your body, it can help heal it, too.