Can Fibroids Affect My Fertility?
For women hoping to become pregnant, the question “Can fibroids affect my fertility?” carries real emotional weight. The answer is not the same for everyone. Many women with fibroids conceive without difficulty, while others face challenges depending on where the fibroids are located and how large they are. The key is understanding your individual situation and exploring treatment options that protect your long-term fertility.
Below are seven important facts that clarify how fibroids may influence conception and pregnancy, as well as how treatment choices fit into your family planning goals.
1. Understanding Fibroids and Why Location Matters
Fibroids are benign growths of muscle and connective tissue that form in the uterus. Their impact on fertility depends heavily on where they develop.
Submucosal fibroids: These grow just beneath the uterine lining and push into the cavity, making implantation difficult.
Intramural and subserosal fibroids: These grow within the uterine wall or on the outer surface and usually do not affect fertility unless they become very large.
2. How Submucosal Fibroids Affect Conception
Submucosal fibroids can disrupt pregnancy in several ways.
They may distort the shape of the uterine cavity, create inflammation, or interfere with blood flow to the uterine lining. Even a small disruption in the cavity can reduce the chance of successful embryo implantation.
3. Fibroid Treatment and Uterine Health
When fertility is a priority, treatment must preserve the structure and function of the uterus.
The goal is to remove or shrink fibroids while minimizing damage to healthy uterine tissue. This ensures the uterus can carry a pregnancy safely once the fibroids are treated.
4. Uterine Fibroid Embolization and Pregnancy Considerations
While UFE is a highly effective treatment for women who do not plan future pregnancies, it is approached more cautiously in those who do.
There is a theoretical concern that UFE may reduce blood flow to areas of the uterus that support a developing pregnancy. Although many successful pregnancies have occurred after UFE, myomectomy is usually recommended for women with immediate fertility goals.
Always discuss your family planning timeline with both your interventional radiologist and your gynecologist.
5. Myomectomy as a Fertility-Focused Option
Myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroids, is often the preferred first-line treatment for women who want to conceive.
Removing submucosal fibroids in particular can significantly improve implantation and pregnancy success. This approach preserves the uterus and is backed by strong evidence for women pursuing fertility.
6. Pregnancy Risks in Women With Fibroids
Women who become pregnant while still having fibroids face certain risks.
These may include miscarriage, preterm labor, breech positioning, or placental problems, especially when fibroids are large or positioned near the cervix. Because of these factors, pregnancies involving fibroids are often monitored more closely.
7. Open Communication Is Essential
No one should assume that fibroids or their treatment eliminate the possibility of motherhood.
The best path is a coordinated plan between your gynecologist, fertility specialist, and fibroid treatment provider. Together, they can tailor recommendations that protect both your fertility and your overall health.
Final Thoughts
The question “Can fibroids affect my fertility?” is best answered through individual evaluation, imaging, and thoughtful discussion with your medical team. While fibroids can create fertility challenges, many women go on to achieve healthy pregnancies after appropriate treatment. Choosing the right approach—whether myomectomy or, in select cases, a carefully considered discussion about UFE—helps you move forward with clarity and confidence on your path to motherhood. Request an appointment with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fibroids contribute to infertility in a small percentage of cases. Submucosal fibroids, which distort the uterine cavity, are the most likely culprits. Others may contribute to subfertility or recurrent pregnancy loss.
Many women have conceived after UFE. However, because research is ongoing regarding its long-term impact on the placenta, myomectomy is generally preferred for women with active plans for pregnancy.
If the fibroids are small, not causing symptoms, and not located under the uterine lining, most physicians recommend trying to conceive first. Treatment is typically considered only if conception does not occur or if a submucosal fibroid is present.