Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus .Due to delayed child bearing and advanced maternal age more and more women as well as the obstetricians are facing this issue of fibroids in pregnancy more frequently .The prevalence during pregnancy varies from 1-4%.
FAQ
- What complications can I anticipate due to fibroid during pregnancy
The complications during pregnancy include spontaneous miscarriage ,fetal growth restriction, preterm labour and prematurity , pain due to red degeneration of fibroid , pressure symptoms due to large size of fibroid , malposition and malpresentation.
- Will my fibroid increase in size ?
The mean increase in fibroid volume during pregnancy is 12%, and few fibroids increase by more than 25%.Most of the studies have shown no significant increase in size of the fibroids during pregnancy.
- Whats are the chances that I may deliver prematurely/Will I be able to reach term ?
The evidence about preterm delivery is inconsistent across the literature ,however ,majority of the patients reach term pregnancy i.e.9 months .
- What if I have pain abdomen during pregnancy?
Red degeneration of fibroid is the most common cause of pain during pregnancy and usually managed conservatively .However ,torsion of a subserosal fibroid may present as acute abdomen which requires emergency myomectomy
- Can I have normal vaginal delivery ?
Vaginal delivery is not contraindicated and many studies have suggested high vaginal delivery rates in women having pregnancy with fibroids .It has been proposed that women with fibroids should not be counselled against trial of labour.
However non progress of labour , large fibroid causing obstruction of birth canal and legal malposition /malpresentation are some of the factors leading to increased caesarean section rates in pregnant women with fibroid uterus
- What is the overall outcome ?
Overall good maternal and neonatal outcome is expected in pregnancy with fibroid .
