Pregnancy after UFE
Fibroids can cause more than just uncomfortable symptoms; they can often lead to fertility issues. However, there’s no need to panic because having fibroids doesn't mean you won’t be able to conceive.
If your fibroids are causing symptoms, the team at Texas Endovascular can help you on your pregnancy journey with effective treatments, like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
Let's dive into understanding how fibroids can impact fertility, explore different treatments, like UFE, and learn what pregnancy after UFE looks like.
How do fibroids affect fertility?
While fibroids are common among women of reproductive age, they do not always lead to fertility issues. However, fibroids can potentially interfere with conception, depending on their size and location. Some potential effects on fertility include:
- Distortion of the Uterine Cavity: Submucosal fibroids, which grow into the uterine cavity, can change the typical shape of the uterus. This distortion may interfere with the implantation of a fertilized egg, reducing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
- Obstruction of the Fallopian Tubes: In rare cases, larger fibroids near the fallopian tubes can obstruct the passage of eggs from the ovaries, making fertilization difficult or impossible.
- Impact on Sperm Migration: Intramural fibroids, which develop within the muscular wall of the uterus, may affect the movement of sperm within the uterus. This can hinder the sperm's ability to reach the fallopian tubes and fertilize an egg.
- Increased Risk of Miscarriage: Some studies suggest that submucosal and intramural fibroids may increase the risk of miscarriage during early pregnancy. The exact reasons are not fully understood, but the cause may be related to the disruption of the uterine environment.
Removing fibroids using treatments, like UFE, can remove these barriers to conception and help restore fertility. This means pregnancy after UFE is often possible.
Can I have a healthy pregnancy with fibroids?
The short answer is yes. A healthy pregnancy is possible with fibroids. In fact, many women with fibroids have no trouble getting pregnant or maintaining a healthy, full-term pregnancy. However, those with fibroid symptoms may need additional assistance, according to The Mayo Clinic.
Addressing symptomatic fibroids is a crucial medical decision, especially if you hope to grow your family. While pregnancy remains possible with fibroids, they can create an unfavorable uterine environment for the embryo, elevating the risks of pregnancy loss, premature labor and delivery complications.
Nonetheless, there are promising reports. A study revealed that 90% of participants had pregnancies that reached full-term despite significant fibroid growth into the second trimester after a relatively minor procedure.
The participants received varied treatment approaches, with the group undergoing progesterone treatment and a cervical intervention exhibiting the highest success rates. These participants surpassed even those who underwent surgical fibroid removal via myomectomy.
Although this outcome is promising for pregnant women with fibroids, seeking UFE before attempting pregnancy could provide better results. Let’s take a look at what pregnancy after UFE looks like.
Can you get pregnant after UFE?
Many patients ask, “Is it safe to get pregnant after UFE?” At Texas Endovascular, we tell patients that the answer is often yes. Uterine fibroid embolization is an excellent treatment choice, reducing fibroid symptoms and keeping the uterus healthy for pregnancy.
UFE is a non-surgical fibroid treatment that blocks the blood flow to fibroids by injecting particles through a specialized catheter. Doing so causes the fibroids to shrink and disappear, which improves fertility after UFE.
Although UFE is very successful, surgical intervention might be the best option for fibroid treatment for some women.
However, surgery comes with several downsides, including a longer recovery period, which usually means no conception for 3 to 6 months. Invasive surgery may also weaken the uterus, making vaginal birth harder and increasing the chances of needing a Cesarean section. This is why we often recommend UFE over surgery whenever possible.
The specialists at Texas Endovascular can help you determine whether surgery or UFE is right for you and explore pregnancy after UFE.
The fibroid care you need close to home
Our team at Texas Endovascular is here to help you navigate your pregnancy journey. If you're worried about fibroids affecting your ability to have children, reach out to us to schedule an evaluation at one of our convenient locations in Texas. Your fertility and health are our top priorities.
