Dr. K D NAYAR – IVF Specialist, India

Uterine fibroids can significantly affect a woman’s fertility. Learn how this common condition might impact your ability to conceive and the potential treatments available at Akanksha IVF Centre, Delhi.

So many different factors can play a role in affecting your ability to get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. One potential factor which affects women of reproductive age is uterine fibroids, a common condition in the reproductive age group.

What are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that occur in the muscle tissue of the uterus. Women usually have more than one fibroid, which can vary in size and location. The size of fibroids is often described by fruit, e.g., the size of a grapefruit. These fibroids can change the size and shape of the uterus, and may affect the cervix. It is the size and location of the fibroids that often affect whether you experience symptoms, infertility, and require treatment.

Types of Uterine Fibroids

• Subserosal: Located in the outer wall of the uterus (55%)
• Intramural: Found in the muscular layers of the uterine wall (40%)
• Submucosal: Protrudes into the uterine cavity (5%)

The cause of fibroids is still not fully understood, but factors like genetics, hormones, and environmental influences are believed to play a role. The most common way to determine if you have fibroids and assess their size, number, and location is through a physical exam and ultrasound. In some cases, additional imaging tests such as an MRI may be required.

Can Fibroids Cause Infertility?

Estimates suggest that about 5-10% of women facing infertility have fibroids. The size and location of the fibroids are key factors in whether they cause infertility. Fibroids that are large (greater than 6 cm) and those located inside the uterine cavity are more likely to interfere with the ability to conceive.

How Do Fibroids Cause Infertility?

Uterine fibroids can affect fertility in several ways, depending on their size and location:

• Fibroids can block the fallopian tubes, making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.
• Changes in the cervix may limit the number of sperm that can enter the uterus.
• Fibroids can alter the shape of the uterus and impact sperm or embryo movement.
• Fibroids may impact the uterine lining’s thickness, hindering implantation.
• Changes in blood flow to the uterus may reduce the chances of successful embryo implantation.

Treatment for Fibroids

Treatment for fibroids should be tailored to your individual situation, including the severity of your symptoms and whether other infertility causes are present. Surgical options, often minimally invasive, can eliminate fibroids. Other treatments like ultrasound, embolization, and medication can shrink fibroids, but results may be temporary.

If you’re trying to improve your fertility, research suggests that treatment for submucosal fibroids (those that protrude into the uterine cavity) may increase pregnancy and live birth rates.

This is not the end… We will continue discussing how IVF can help women with fibroids achieve pregnancy.

Contact Akanksha IVF Centre

Akanksha IVF Centre Delhi, A-3/7, Janakpuri, New Delhi, India – 110058

Phone: +91-11-45682024

Mobile: +91-9810398765, +91-9810398767

Email: kdnayar@usa.net