Fibroids are noncancerous uterine growths that affect up to 80% of women by age 50.
Although the exact causes of fibroids' appearance or growth are still unclear, several risk factors, such as age, race, genetics, hormones, and lifestyle, have been identified.
It’s vital to remember that even with uterine growths, many women can have children, but fibroids may impact fertility, which is why they can make starting a family quite complicated.
The size, location, and number of uterine fibroids will be critical to your ability to conceive and give birth.
Even with all of this understood, some misconceptions about fibroids persist, including the idea that sperm can cause fibroids to grow or increase in size.
In this blog post, we will examine this claim and provide evidence-based answers to common questions about the link between sperm and fibroid growth.
The short answer is no. There is no known link or scientific evidence between sperm and fibroid size or growth.
Fibroids are believed to originate from a single smooth muscle cell in the uterine wall that undergoes abnormal growth and division, forming a mass of cells.
Fibroids can be influenced by various factors, such as hormones, blood flow, inflammation, and genetic mutations, but not by sperm.
Therefore, blaming sperm for fibroids is a baseless and misleading claim that can create unnecessary fear or guilt during attempted conception or throughout your fertility journey.
The next time you or a loved one tries to conceive, we want you to no longer worry about the common question, “Does sperm make fibroids grow?”
Instead, focus more on how your fibroids may impact your uterus size, shape, or space for your future baby to grow and speak with a fibroid specialist to determine the best options for your growing family.
Various factors can affect fertility if you’re living with fibroids.
Fibroids can prevent sperm and egg from joining together for healthy and successful conception. The shape of your cervix may also change as fibroids develop, which can keep sperm from entering your uterus altogether.
The location of fibroids can also have a large impact. If fibroids block your fallopian tubes, an embryo may not be able to reach your uterus. Or, the structure of your uterus may change, making it difficult for your egg to implant.
Your fibroids will also change during pregnancy as your body increases its production of estrogen. So, as the fetus grows, your fibroids will likely grow as well.
During pregnancy, a large fibroid increases your chances of a miscarriage. Large growths can also change your baby’s position within the uterus, forcing you to deliver via cesarean section or at an earlier date than planned.
Lastly, fibroids can weaken your uterine wall and decrease the amount of nutrients feeding your growing embryo. This also increases your risk of miscarriage.
You don’t have to live with fibroids forever, especially if they get in the way of growing your family.
There are effective, minimally invasive treatment options, like uterine fibroid embolization, to shrink and remove fibroids and increase your chances of becoming pregnant if your infertility is fibroid related.
To determine the best course of treatment for your unique case of fibroids, you must see a fibroid treatment specialist for evaluation and a personalized treatment plan.
Together, we can weigh the various procedures available to you and select the one that presents the best benefits for you and your fertility journey.
Please call 713-999-4301 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment with our team now.
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