How does a fibroid affect fertility?

Fibroids may reduce your chances of becoming pregnant if:

• They are located on the cervix, as they can decrease the amount of sperm that pass through it to reach the egg.
• They cause changes in the shape of the uterus, thereby interfering with the movement of the sperm.
• They cause changes in the uterine muscle, preventing the movement of the sperm and of the embryo.
• They obstruct the fallopian tubes, preventing sperm from reaching the egg and the fertilized egg from reaching the uterus.
• They decrease the blood flow to the uterus.

During pregnancy, the fibroid may grow and cause discomfort, a feeling of pressure, bleeding or severe pain that sometimes require hospitalization. They can also provoke miscarriages. In fact, fibroids are found in 5-10% of recurrent miscarriages, so here the recommendation is always for them to be removed..

If fibroids are present during the pregnancy, this can also increase the risk of caesarean section or premature delivery, in the event that the baby’s position changes at birth.