Fibroids are benign tumors in the uterine muscle and can be as small as a sunflower seed to as large as a cantaloupe. They are very common; more than three-fourths of women can have these small tumors, but only about one-third will have a fibroid large enough to be seen in a normal pelvic examination by an OB-GYN. Even of these women, the thirty-percent, only twenty-percent will even need any surgical procedure or other mode of treatment (Fibroids and Fertility).
Types of Fibroids
Every fibroid is different, from the size, the position, the symptoms, and the type. Symptoms will vary depending on the size and type of fibroid tumor. Some fibroids can become very large and heavy while others can be very small and light, some can impact the menstrual cycle, and some can produce a lot of pressure and pelvic discomfort.
Submucosal fibroids are the cause of heavy and irregular bleeding and grow within the inner cavity of the uterus. They grow right under the cells that line the uterus and can bulge toward the inside of the organ. Intramural fibroids are the most common type of uterine fibroid and they grow in the wall of the uterus. The pedunculated fibroid hangs down from a “stalk” and forms on the inside of the uterine wall or form and grow into the inner uterus, so they can be submucosal or subserosal. Subserosal tumors grow on the outer wall of the uterus.
Impact on Fertility
The main type of uterine fibroid that can impact fertility is the submucosal fibroid. It is not as common as the other fibroids, but since it grows within the inner wall of the organ it can block the fallopian tubes, thus impacting fertility. They can also affect how the embryo implants into the lining.
If you have uterine fibroids, there are options to help diminish or remove them. Surgery is not always a viable option, and it certainly isn’t the only option. There are other procedures that can be done to rid you of the fibroids, and your physician will probably use a camera-like device, called a hysteroscope to take a look inside the uterus and identify specific ways to treat your fibroids.
Even though the cause of fibroids is still not completely known, much research is being conducted to minimize the risks of getting fibroids and also to prevent complications caused by these benign tumors. If you have a fibroid that is impacting your fertility, luckily there are treatment options out there that are available.
“Fibroids and Fertility.” ASRM Patient Fact Sheet: Fibroids and Fertility. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <https://www.asrm.org/FACTSHEET_Fibroids_and_Fertility/>