Because awareness is critical to safeguarding your reproductive health, this is one of the leading causes of infertility that you may never have heard of.
Many of the causes of infertility, including PCOS, aging, inadequate egg stores, cancer, among others, may be recognizable to you. Fibroids, which affect about two in three women and are most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50, can also make things difficult. A benign growth that forms inside the uterus, where a fetus develops and matures, is known as a uterine fibroid, also known as a fibroid. These fibroids filled with muscle and fibrous tissue can form in the muscular wall or cavity of the uterus.
There are three main forms of fibroids, which can affect fertility and make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant and have a child for the full nine months.
“Early intervention is essential to minimize the potential damage fibroids could have on your pregnancy,” says Dr. Shobha Gupta, medical director and infertility specialist at Mother’s Lap IVF Center in New Delhi and Vrindavan.
Why do fibroids develop?
Studies have revealed a connection between fibroids and estrogen levels, despite the fact that the cause and mechanism of their development are still largely unknown.
There are a few more items that are related to fibroids, such as the risk of a woman experiencing fibroids at some point in her life may be increased if other family members have been diagnosed with them. “Always see your GP or a specialist if she falls into one of these groups and you think she might be at higher risk of getting fibroids or experiencing any symptoms.”
What can fibroids become?
There are three primary types of fibroids, and each has a unique set of symptoms. Each person’s symptoms are unique, and some women may not have any symptoms at all. Because of this, explains Dr. Shobha Gupta, “fibroids often go unnoticed.” She does, however, note that some typical symptoms include dizziness, abdominal pain, heavy periods, painful intercourse, and frequent urination.
Fibroids can, in rare cases, make it difficult for a woman to become pregnant or have a child at full term. They can make pregnancy difficult and, in the worst case, lead to infertility. A doctor or fertility specialist can help you approach pregnancy safely if you are trying to get pregnant and have been told that you have fibroids. Raising awareness about the disease is crucial so that women who get fibroids can get help and treatment quickly.
There are three main categories of fibroids:
Intramural: These form within the uterine muscular wall. If you have many, they can tighten the lining and expand the region where blood can bleed.
Submucosal: These lie just below the surface of the lining of the uterus and can cause heavy monthly discharge and distort the cavity of the uterus.
Subserous: These are on the outside of the uterus and can put more pressure on the organ.
Fibroids contribute to infertility
Submucous fibroids, one of three forms of fibroids, are more likely to affect fertility because they develop within the lining of the uterus. A submucosal fibroid can block a woman’s fallopian tube, preventing the release of sperm or the fertilization of an egg. This type of fibroid can also prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the lining of the uterus, depending on its size and location.
“Women who have large fibroids or groups of fibroids that take up a lot of uterine space may have difficulty carrying a baby to term,” added Dr. Shobha Gupta.
fibroid treatment
Fortunately, there are numerous options for treating fibroids. Women often receive prescription drugs or injections to shrink the growths. Minimally invasive surgery may be an option to remove larger fibroids if you have the condition. Myomectomy or hysterectomy can be done in the most serious situations, but this is rare and usually a last resort.
Dr. Shobha Gupta adds that in addition to taking into account the patient’s age, general health, and desire for children when determining the best course of treatment, the size and location of the fibroids are also important considerations.
Before beginning any course of treatment, women should always carefully weigh their options and obtain a professional medical opinion.
(with input from IANS)
