Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Uterine Fibroids and Fertility

Most women who have fibroids do go on to have successful pregnancies and deliveries and evidence shows that at least being aware of having fibroids means that if necessary, you can take steps to minimize their impact. Problems tend to arise when women are unaware of having fibroids. Indeed, fibroids are often shown to be the cause of a number of cases of "unexplained fertility".

The two problems mainly associated with uterine fibroids and fertility center around two issues-the size of the fibroids and their location. Fibroids do not usually grow during pregnancy. In fact in most cases they will actually shrink, returning to their pre-pregnancy size within a few months of delivery. Smaller fibroids rarely cause a problem during pregnancy unless they are located in a area which affects the passage of sperm or the implantation of the embryo. If fibroids are positioned near or at the entrance of the cervix or fallopian tubes, they can physically prevent the passage of sperm to the egg, thus preventing pregnancy. Larger fibroids growing just beneath the lining of the uterus can sometimes cause implantation failure or can be responsible for early miscarriages. As the pregnancy progresses, larger fibroids can compete for space with the growing fetus and sometimes cause a premature delivery.

Surgery is rarely the best option if you are considering trying for a family as conventional treatments are not conducive to a healthy pregnancy, with scarring and weakening of the uterus causing obvious problems.

Fortunately, there are ways to prepare your body for a forthcoming pregnancy, such as taking regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and ensuring you are taking in the correct levels of vitamins and minerals. In addition, if you are overweight, losing a few pounds will be beneficial. Additionally, there are natural ways of shrinking fibroids which will help give you the peace of mind you need at this important time.

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