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If you're experiencing menstrual pain, your symptoms are far more common than you might think. Now, if you have heavy periods and pelvic pain, there's a good chance you have uterine fibroids. After all, according to the National Institutes of Health, 80 to 90 percent of African American women and 70 percent of Caucasian women will develop fibroids before the age of 50.

Since uterine fibroids are prevalent, can cause severe symptoms and can even lead to trouble getting or staying pregnant, it is important to know the warning signs of fibroid development.

But it's also important to recognize that uterine fibroids and endometriosis can both cause similar symptoms. So let's take a moment to explain the differences between the two.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue from your uterus, endometrium, grows in or on other parts of your body. Like women with fibroids, women with endometriosis may experience heavy, painful periods as well as bleeding between periods. They are also prone to pelvic pain.

Endometriosis vs Endometritis

Unlike endometriosis, endometritis is a type of bacterial infection that affects your uterus. Like fibroids and endometriosis, this infection can cause abdominal swelling, pelvic pain and constipation. It also causes inflammation in your uterine lining. Without intervention, this infection can become chronic, impacting your fertility among other areas of life. You may also experience uterine bleeding outside of your menstrual cycle. But, unlike other conditions with similar symptoms, you can develop a fever with endometritis. Also, you are most likely to develop this condition after giving birth or having a miscarriage; after having an STD; getting an IUD; or after having a different pelvic procedure. Keeping track of your recent health history can help you receive an accurate and timely diagnosis.

Endometriosis vs. Fibroids

Both of these conditions affect your uterus, but they do so differently.  Fibroids are made of muscular tissue; they form in your uterine cavity, within the uterine wall, or outside the uterus. Similarly, endometriosis is characterized by growths outside the uterus. But, with this condition, the trouble begins when the endometrial tissue that lines your uterus develops outside of the uterine cavity.

Endometriosis vs. Fibroids:  Symptom Differences

While there are many similarities in the symptoms you experience with each of these conditions, there are clear differences as well. When you have fibroids, you'll experience long or heavy periods, along with bleeding between periods. Many women experience pelvic pain or pressure, and a frequent need to urinate. Sex can also be painful with fibroids, and you may feel bloated or experience constipation.

But what about endometriosis? With this condition, you may experience painful periods, causing the condition to mimic many others. (As such, it takes women an average of 7-9 years to get an endo diagnosis, according to this study.)

Still, there are ways to differentiate. With endometriosis, pain can also be a problem before you menstruate. You may also deal with painful sex. Women with endometriosis can experience painful bowel movements or urination during their periods, and fatigue can be a major concern. With either fibroids or endometriosis, it may be harder to become pregnant, or deliver a full-term baby.

Clearly, there is some overlap between these conditions, and that's why the best way to diagnose the cause of your symptoms is to see your healthcare provider. But you can also narrow down the cause of your pelvic pain and heavy bleeding by better understanding your risk for developing fibroids.

Who is At Risk for Fibroid Symptoms? pain from uterine fibroids

African American women are three times more likely than caucasian women to develop fibroids; they are also more likely to develop several fibroids at a time. Other factors that could increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids include your age (being over 40) and your weight, since obesity increases your risk. You should also learn your family history of fibroids, and understand that high blood pressure, or never having a pregnancy, could also increase your risk.

Can I Lower My Fibroid Risk?

While many factors can increase your fibroid risk, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of developing these non-cancerous uterine tumors. Some measures include:

What are the Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids?

Every case is different and some women may never experience symptoms, but a majority of women with fibroids experience at least one of these three common symptoms.

Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

The most common symptom for women with fibroid tumors is excessive bleeding while menstruating. Often times, the bleeding is prolonged, causing periods to last longer than normal. This can lead to soiling of clothing and may interfere with everyday activities.

Heavy periods are most common with intramural and submucosal fibroids. You may also pass large clots when you have fibroids. Over time, this heavy bleeding can cause health complications such as anemia.

Pelvic Pain & Pressure

Women with fibroids may feel pain in their lower abdomen. As fibroids grow larger, depending on their size and location, they may cause pain by putting pressure on organs. In addition, they could cause swelling that is often mistaken as weight gain or pregnancy.

Even small fibroids can cause pressure, depending on their location. But this symptom could also indicate adenomyosis or endometriosis. So you should see your doctor at the first sign of pressure or pain in your pelvis.

Loss of Bladder Control

Fibroids can press against the bladder causing frequent urination and even loss of bladder control. Not only can this cause a great deal of pain, it can disrupt your everyday activities. In addition, fibroid growth can place pressure on the bowel, causing constipation and bloating.

Reaching a Uterine Fibroid Diagnosis

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, or these additional fibroid symptoms, schedule an immediate appointment with our fibroid specialists. Fibroids can usually be found during a simple abdominal or pelvic exam. If your doctor feels that you may have fibroids, an ultrasound or MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis and proceed with treatment. And, if your provider rules out fibroids as the cause of your symptoms, he or she may recommend further testing to confirm or rule out an endometriosis diagnosis.

Sources: Bioidentical Hormone Health

If you have fibroids, you may worry about future pregnancy. Uterine fibroids aren't usually cancerous, which is good news. But they grow in your womb, and they're very common during your reproductive years. Fibroids develop as single tumors or as multiple growths. Depending on the type, size, and number of fibroids you have, they could affect your pregnancy.

Recently, Greenleaf star Deborah Joy Winans announced her pregnancy after a fibroids journey. Just a year before announcing her pregnancy, Winans' doctors discovered she had eight large fibroids. While she was considering her treatment options, she also learned she was pregnant.

Right away, she learned this could be a problem. Winans told Essence magazine, "When [the doctor] started to tell me the things that will happen in my body because of the fibroids and the things that the baby might face, I just was like, ‘Okay, this is really, really serious. ”

Just months later, Winans wound up in the ER with terrible pain and vomiting. There, she learned that degenerating fibroids were responsible for her misery. Next, she needed a surgical procedure to close her cervix, which was opening too soon. Following that procedure, bed rest was in order. So, today she says she's simply hoping to carry her baby closer to her due date. "As long as I can get to 28 [weeks]... [my doctor] knows that [the baby will] be good and healthy if he came that early. So, 28 is the goal.”

Of course, delivering her baby isn't ideal. But pre-term labor isn't the only way fibroids affect pregnancy. In fact, studies suggest, they could also impact your health in ways that don't involve your growing fetus.

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Are you worried about your fibroids fertility journey? Even with uterine growths, many women can have children, but fibroids hurt fertility. Which is why these non-cancerous tumors of the uterus can make starting a family quite complicated.

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Have you ever wondered about problems with pregnancy and fibroids? When you learn that you have fibroids, it means that you have a non-cancerous tumor in your uterus. And, since your uterus is a large, layered organ, we classify and name fibroids based on where in your uterus they develop.

In case you need a review: your uterus has three layers: the outer serosa; the middle, muscular myometrium; and the inner lining—the endometrium. This endometrium is the lining that you shed each month during your period.

Now that you’ve got the anatomy down, we’ll get to classifying fibroids. There are three different types of fibroids.
1. Uterine fibroids that develop beneath the outside covering of the womb are called sub-serosal.

2. If they form in your uterine muscle, they are intramural.

3. And if fibroids pop up in your uterine cavity, inside the endometrium, they are submucosal.

Many women find it difficult to become pregnant while they have untreated fibroids. That's because your growths could block the fallopian tubes, or change the shape of your uterus, interfering with conception. But, if you do become pregnant, the location of your fibroids can make a major difference in your ability to carry your child to term. And that's a big problem for all women. But it's especially concerning for black women, who are three times more likely to develop fibroids and, according to the CDC, three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.

Sub Mucosal Fibroids and Pregnancy

When it comes to pregnancy and fibroids, tumors that develop in your womb can have the greatest impact on your pregnancy. If the fibroid is large enough to change the shape of your womb, you may experience pregnancy complications. Common side effects include, spotting and pain. Your fetal growth could be limited, because fibroids take up too much space in your uterus. With pregnancy and fibroids, your risk for premature delivery and miscarriage also increases. And during your pregnancy, you're also at risk for placental abruption (when your placenta detaches from your uterus.)

Furthermore, a new scientific study in the Annals of Epidemiology revealed that having fibroids during pregnancy led to a slight increase in the baby's head, arm and thigh circumference. Having fibroids also led to a slight increase in pre-term births. Also, in some cases, your fibroid may require you to have a C-section. That’s because its growth can alter your baby’s position, or block off your delivery pathway.

Getting Pregnant with Fibroids

Sometimes, the location of your fibroid can make it difficult to become pregnant. In fact, we find fibroids in between 5% – 10% of women with infertility. The most common culprits? Fibroids that are inside your uterine cavity (submucosal). You may also have trouble getting pregnant with very large intramural fibroids (the ones within the wall of your uterus.) And that could be becausefibroids reduce the presence of certain cytokines that are important to the conception process.

Luckily, most women with fibroids can still become pregnant. But if you have fibroids and plan to get pregnant, you should receive a thorough medical evaluation. After all, fibroids can impact your fertility in several ways.

They can change your cervix shape, limiting the number of sperm that enter your uterus. Depending on location, fibroids can also change your uterine shape, getting in the way of sperm or fertilized embryos. Some fibroids may block your fallopian tubes, which keeps your egg from traveling to your uterus for fertilization. Also, fibroids can impact your endometrial lining, making it harder for embryos to implant. This problem is further complicated if fibroid affect blood flow to your uterine cavity. Why? Limited blood makes it even tougher for embryos to implant in your uterus.

Fibroids and Pregnancy: Concerns After Conception

Now you know what you need to watch out for when you’re trying to conceive. But here are some concerns to understand when you're dealing with pregnancy and fibroids.

  1. Submucosal fibroids can restrict your fetus' growth, because they take up space in your uterus. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may also experience more pain as your growing baby and your fibroid fight for limited space.
  2. Any fibroid that changes the shape of your cervix increases your risk for a breech delivery. (That's when your baby is born feet-first, instead of the more optimal head down position.)
  3. If your fibroid blocks your baby's placenta, the placenta could break away from the inner wall of your uterus before your delivery, impacting your baby's nutrition and oxygen levels. (Called placental abruption, this situation can leave you with heavy bleeding. And it may mean a forced early delivery for your baby.)
  4. Fortunately, a 2017 study revealed that fibroids can't be linked to an increased risk of miscarriage.

Luckily, the news keeps getting better. A 2023 study from India followed 110 pregnant women with fibroids. Among their numbers, 80% of the expectant mothers carried their babies to term. Now, 61% of the women delivered their babies by c-section. But complications during and after pregnancy were relatively rare, with just 21% experiencing pre-term labor; 20% needing blood transfusions; and only 9% experiencing bleeding after delivery. Of course, this was a small study, but it does suggest that fibroids and pregnancy don't have to mean major adverse outcomes. Even so, if you get a diagnosis of fibroids before trying to conceive, you may want to seek treatment to make the conception and pregnancy process easier.

Boost Fertility and Treat Fibroids in Houston

Now, we know these are all scary ideas. But here’s some good news for you. First of all, these complications occur in between 10 to 30% of pregnant women with fibroids. So, your pregnancy could be unaffected. And, most fibroids don’t grow during pregnancy. In fact, with your changing hormone levels, some fibroids may even shrink while you're pregnant.

Still, given the potential risks to you and your growing baby, you should talk to your healthcare provider about your fibroids if you want to become or already are pregnant. Most experts recommend treating fibroids before trying to conceive. Because, once you're pregnant, your treatment options are very limited.

Are you thinking of starting your family, and you've been diagnosed with fibroids? Click here to request an appointment with our Houston fibroid specialists. We can review treatment options, to help you conceive and safely carry your baby to term.

Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine

July was National Fibroid Awareness in several cities and states, and Houston has joined that group now, which is something we're very excited about. So, in recognition of her efforts, we honor Tamika Gray Valburn, founder of The White Dress Project. For years, Tanika suffered with fibroids. Her mom lost two sets of twins because of her own fibroids. But even with the family history, Tamika didn't make the connection to her own diagnosis!

In fact, Valburn's fibroids were diagnosed in her late teens. At that point, she'd experienced years of painful symptoms. “You just think it will skip a generation,” she's explained in interviews. “When you’re young, you’re not thinking it will be your story as well.” But, like so many women, Valburn discovered that fibroids do tend to run in families.

Living with Fibroid Symptoms

Because Valburn's fibroids triggered heavy periods, she "learn[ed] how to pad myself [to keep from leaking through clothes.] I know the whole formula—what kind of underwear to wear, what kind of tights, what kind of Spanx. I’ve tried and tested everything. It’s become a way of life.” But that wasn't her only symptom. She also experienced bloating, pain, and a heavy emotional burden.

Eventually, Tanika surgically removed 27 fibroids from her uterus. After her recovery, she wanted to help other women. So, in 2014, Tanika earned a Georgia state representative's support in declaring July as Fibroid Awareness Month. The goal? Helping women get the crucial health information they need. After all, as she says, “Many Black women discover they have fibroids later in life, often after enduring years of heavy bleeding, painful menstrual cycles, fertility struggles, and other related issues. We must stop normalizing symptoms that we often contribute to ‘being a woman.” Furthermore, she notes, “Prioritizing awareness and education about fibroids in the Black community is a critical step in breaking down barriers to proper care, advocating for equitable access to healthcare resources, and ultimately improving the well-being of Black women everywhere.”

But she didn’t stop there. Tanika realized that she never bought white clothing. She said, “It’s a simple thing. Like, who cares, why not just wear black? But I love clothes, and the fact that I had to sacrifice wearing white for these benign tumors—I wasn’t feeling it.”

The White Dress Project


That same year, Tanika founded the White Dress Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting fibroid awareness, supporting research, and bringing together a community of women who work to empower one another.  After all, this is crucial. According to the CDC, one in three women will have a hysterectomy by the time she turns 60. But, according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 18.3% of those hysterectomies aren't medically necessary. So, why do women have these surgeries? They don't know about other options!

That's where Tanika and her project want to make a difference. And they've made white dresses their symbol, as it signified a major milestone in Tanika’s recovery: the moment she could rock a white dress without any fear. (Because minimally invasive surgery helped resolve her painful fibroid symptoms.) Now, the white dress has become a symbol of strength and power to other women dealing with fibroids. And it's just one more step in the crucial fight to take control of women's menstrual health issues. Especially for Black women like Tanika, who are disproportionately at risk for avoidable hysterectomies. And for the serious complications that often come with open surgery. 

As doctors involved in the daily battle against fibroids, we salute Tanika, our forever #WCW. We invite all women who are dealing with fibroids to slip on their white dresses and take control of their health by learning more about UFE, a minimally invasive treatment for fibroids!

Sources: The White Dress Project, Healio Primary Care

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.

Does Sperm Increase the Size of a Fibroid?

sperm swimming

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.

So, Why Can Fibroids Cause Fertility Challenges if Sperm Isn’t an Issue?

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.

Effective and Timely Fibroid Care in Houston

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.

Four years ago,  Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Porsha Williams' fibroids challenges surrounded being pregnant with her first child. At that time, she opened up about her struggle, making her one of our first Woman Crush Wednesday nominees! Well, once again, she's talking fibroids, infertility and health care challenges that make it harder to get a proper fibroid diagnosis! For that reason, we're back to celebrate Porsha and her courage. Keep sharing those fibroid stories, ladies! Together, we'll get through.

Porsha Williams Fibroids and Fertility Challenges: Early Years

Ms. Williams and her ex-husband, Kordell Stewart suffered one miscarriage during their marriage. For the next six years, Porsha struggled to get pregnant again. During this difficult period, Porsha found out she had uterine fibroids (non-cancerous tumors that grow in the uterus) that could be affecting her ability to carry a baby. Because of her age and hopes for a family, Porsha sought fertility-saving treatment. She ultimately had a myomectomy--a surgery that removed her fibroid but kept her uterus in place and intact.

While her marriage ended, her hopes for a baby did not. She found new love with boyfriend Dennis McKinley. And then, in early 2019, the couple welcomed daughter PJ. At the time, Porsha told people, "It’s something we’ve both always wanted."

Fear and Joy

Even hearing that she was finally pregnant was a tense moment for Porsha. On the way into her first pregnancy scan, she wondered, "Because I suffer with fibroids and had to have a myomectomy [I kept thinking] ‘Is the baby going to be okay? Will I make it full term?’ All those questions that you ask if you’ve had a miscarriage before.”

Today, as Porsha and now-fiance Dennis consider expanding their family, those fears remain. In fact, on a recent episode of RHOA, Porsha revealed that she implanted an IUD, a semi-permanent form of birth control. Her reason? Fear of pregnancy complications. And a newly-discovered fibroid regrowth.

On the show, Porsha explained to Denis: "It’s in the same place as my other fibroids were, [but] it’s much, much larger. [My doctor] was like, ‘To have the myomectomy again would make the whole thing difficult to deliver a baby.’ She was like, ‘Well, the other option would be to leave [the fibroid] and then if I got pregnant, see if the baby would possibly outgrow it.'”

For right now, however, that option is too frightening for Porsha. She told Dennis, "I don’t know. I’m scared to just roll the die and get pregnant, and not know what’s going to happen.”

Porsha Williams Fibroids Activism

After all the heartache of her delayed fibroid diagnosis and miscarriage, Porsha wants other women to get better care for uterine fibroids. Recently, she sat down for an interview with the Atlanta Black Star and expressed her desire to make healthcare changes.

She told the paper, “It’s actually pretty sad that I didn’t find out that I had fibroids until I was pregnant. So, you know, I’m really big about wanting to make sure that women get checked … for fibroids, because, unfortunately, doctors don’t ask you about it. Doctors don’t check.”

Hoping to change that reality, she said, "I do plan on talking about this in the future publicly because I’ve suffered so much from these fibroids. And I just feel like if this conversation is being had by young women, they can find out earlier and not have to go through what I went through.”

Now, just after that interview, Porsha underwent uterine fibroid embolization. She explained that, “I hope to have more kids in the future, and, because this procedure "reserves your fertility," it was the best choice for her fibroid journey.

Fertility, Pregnancy and Fibroid Care in Houston, TX

As Houston fibroid doctors who work to give women alternatives to hysterectomies, we love helping women like Porsha. Too many young fibroid sufferers believe that they must undergo a hysterectomy in order to treat their uterine fibroids, but brave women like Ms. Williams are showing that pregnancy is possible, even after fibroids. As long as women know their fibroid treatment options and make their voices heard, uterine fibroids do not have to mean the end of their fertility! Thank you to Porsha and to all our other brave #WCWs for making their voices heard and giving fellow women the power of information.

Sources: BCKOnline.com

If you've struggled with fibroid infertility complications, we're here to help. In fact, as interventional radiologists in Houston, we may be the best experts to help you reclaim your fertility. After all, in addition to offering minimally invasive fibroid treatments, IR specialists can also clear blockages in your fallopian tubes using a procedure called fallopian tube recanalization. (After this procedure, women with blocked tubes report a 41% pregnancy rate. Which is much higher than IVF's success rate.)

But how can we help when your fibroids are keeping you from getting pregnant? Well, many women go on to carry full-term healthy pregnancies after Uterine Fibroid Embolization. (Also called UFE, this is the procedure we perform in our Houston Interventional Radiologist practice.)

Now, if you're not a candidate for UFE, you can still enjoy a happy ending to your fibroids infertility story. And, to help you keep the faith, we want to highlight a feel-good story we saw in Essence magazine. It’s one woman’s experience with fibroids infertility. But it’s also got a very happy ending: the arrival of her healthy baby girl. Which means it’s the news we need to read right now. And, while you’re reading, don’t forget that treating your fibroids will be important if you want to start or grow your family. That's why we are here to help you start your treatment journey now, even if you're months or years away from thoughts of growing families. And now, let’s get to the good stuff: Rachel James, our Woman Crush Wednesday, sharing her story.

Fibroids Infertility: What We Know

Before we get into Rachel's story, a pause to discuss the science of this issue. According to findings in Contemporary OB/GYN, women with fibroids in their uterine cavity (submucosal) experience lower pregnancy and live birth rates. Women with intramural fibroids (growths that develop within the uterine walls) experience lower fertility rates. As such, the authors suggest women should treat their fibroids if they wish to have a baby. Still, they note that fibroids are the sole cause of infertility in just 2-3% of women.

Fibroids Infertility: Delayed

Diagnosis

Rachel and her husband Terrence were married for a year when they realized fertility could be a challenge. They’d been trying, unsuccessfully, to conceive, so Rachel went to see her doctor. Quickly, she told Essence, she got her answer: “That’s when [I discovered that] I had ten fibroids.”

While a fibroid diagnosis doesn’t automatically cause infertility, these non-cancerous uterine tumors can interfere with conception, pregnancy and delivery. Knowing this, Rachel decided to have her fibroids surgically removed. Even after three operations in three years, however, Rachel didn’t get pregnant—and her fibroids grew back, each and every time. So, she and Terrence decided to work with a fertility clinic.

After four rounds of failed interventions, Rachel finally got pregnant in December 2018—even though her fibroids returned. As a result, her pregnancy was difficult—after all, she had three fibroids surrounding her placenta and one underneath her uterus. Rachel told Essence, “I was on bed rest for the first 14 weeks and was at the doctor three times a week for my entire pregnancy.”

Still, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. In August 2019, the couple welcomed Reyna, their healthy baby girl. And, following this joy, Rachel shared her story publicly. Her goal? To help other women with fibroids find strength: “I felt inadequate while going through this,” she explains. “But I had to realize that we’re human, we’re flawed, and everything is not going to work perfectly every time. I had to give myself grace.”

Growing Your Family with Fibroids

As fibroid specialists, we are always thrilled to hear of happy endings like Rachel’s. Yet we are also pained to hear of her struggle—especially her three invasive surgeries. That’s why, in our practice, we offer a minimally invasive fibroid treatment.

Known as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), this procedure shrinks and kills fibroids by cutting off their blood supply. And we are able to do that by inserting a catheter (thin tube) through a vein in your wrist. You don’t have to stay overnight in the hospital. And you’re typically able to get up and walk within an hour of your procedure. Plus, having UFE doesn’t mean you can’t have a child, although we suggest discussing any fibroid treatment with your OB-GYN.

Are you dreaming of starting a family? We can start your fibroid treatment process right now! Even if you prefer to delay UFE until you're ready to get pregnant, we can begin with a fibroid consultation, helping you clarify your options. So, if you’re ready to start your treatment journey, we’re ready to help. Reach out today and request a consultation. We can’t wait to help you get a happy ending of your own!

 

Do infertility and fibroids go together? That's a very good question Of course, for women who haven't completed their families, a fibroid diagnosis can be scary. So one of the first questions we hear from patients is often, "Can I still have a baby with fibroid tumors?"

The answer is, unfortunately, not completely clear cut. Without treatment, some women still won't be able to get pregnant. But many women will have trouble conceiving without some kind of fibroid treatment. And that's just the beginning of the story.

Eve's Story: A Long Journey to Pregnancy eve overcomes infertility and fibroids

While rap icon Eve and her husband Maximillion Cooper now have a gorgeous baby (see pic at right) their journey wasn't easy. You see, Eve told Tamron Hall, fibroids got in the way of her pregnancy for far too long.

After several failed rounds of IVF, she says, "I ended up going to a specialist. They told me, ‘I don’t care: you can do 20 rounds [of IVF], you can have all the sex you want – you’re never going to get pregnant because you have so many fibroids that your uterus actually already thinks it’s already pregnant.”

Even worse, she said her teen years were filled with heavy periods and other warning symptoms. Yet she never received a fibroids diagnosis until this late in the game. Luckily, she figured out something was wrong and got her healthy baby! But other women need to know more about fibroids and pregnancy, so they can also get a happy ending.

Infertility and Fibroids Size

If fibroids stay small, or develop in places where fertility isn't affected, you may get pregnant without problems. But if your fibroids get large, they may physically block your egg from joining up with male sperm.

Then, even if the sperm and egg can join together, a large fibroid could stop the new embryo from implanting in your uterine lining. And, even if an embryo does implant, an untreated tumor can negatively impact your developing fetus.

So, that's the bad news...at least part of it. Because fibroids can also affect women's fertility in other, less obvious, ways.

How Fibroids Change Your Body

Fibroid Treatment After Pregnancy

While some changes are subtle, others may cause big problems for your health. Some women experience cervix shape changes due to fibroids. If that happens to you, it can limit sperm entering your uterus. And that's not all. These growths can also change the shape of your uterus. Which could decrease the number of places where an embryo can successfully implant. Finally, can weaken your uterine cavity lining. They can also decrease the amount of blood reaching a growing fetus. And both of these issues could lead to miscarriage.

Fibroids Don't Have to End Your Fertility Journey

With all the tolls fibroids can take on your reproductive system, there is still good news: many women who have been diagnosed with fibroids go on to have one or more children. While many women used to automatically undergo hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus) after learning they had fibroids, these days there are many fertility-preserving options.

Many women who plan on having children will choose to have a myomectomy (surgically remove the uterine fibroid.) Other women will choose to have a less invasive procedure, like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), that shrinks their fibroids by permanently cutting off the non-cancerous tumor's blood supply. Although the research is not conclusive, many women who have UFE have been able to move on and complete their families in the way they want.

infertility and fibroids treatment

If you're choosing UFE vs Myomectomy, talk to your doctor and our specialists. That way, you can fully understand the impact of your choice. Also, you may benefit from the infographic at right, reposted from the New England Journal of Medicine.

A fibroid diagnosis can certainly be scary, especially if you aren't done having children, but in this case, knowledge really is power. Getting informed about all your options and choosing the best solution for your family will go a long way towards keeping fibroids from derailing your reproductive plans.

Ready to learn more? We're here to help you! Just reach out and request an appointment with our fibroid experts in Houston. We can help you decide if you're a good candidate for UFE, and how that may affect your fertility journey.

Did you know that there are different types of fibroids? If you've been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, it means you have abnormal growths (made up of muscle cells and fibrous tissues) in your uterus. These fibroids are non-cancerous, and can vary in size and location.

While fibroids in any location have the potential to cause uncomfortable side effects, fibroids in certain locations will affect your ability to conceive more than others. Here's a basic guide to types of fibroids, based on location.

Types of Fibroids by Location

Fibroids that grow mainly away from the uterine cavity are called subserosal. Growths that form within the muscle wall are called intramural. And fibroids that grow into the uterine cavity are called submucosal.

Rarely, you may develop a fimbrial fibroid (also called a myoma.) With this growth, called a Type 8 fibroid, your tumor growth is completely distinct from your myometrium. (That's the muscular outer layer of your uterus.) With these rare types of fibroid, your fallopian tubes could get blocked, contributing to infertility.

So, while having fibroids doesn't mean you can't get pregnant, fimbrial, submucosal and intramural fibroids can make it difficult to become pregnant or carry your child to term. Pregnant women usually wait to begin treatment until after they've delivered, but if you're having trouble conceiving, seeking immediate treatment is a good idea.

Exophytic Fibroids

These types of fibroids are very large. So they grow out of your uterus and into the cavity of your abdomen. (That's the definition of "Exophytic"--something that grows beyond the organ where it first developed.)  Both subserosal and submucosal fibroids may be exophytic. Only intramural types of fibroids won't extend into your abdomen. So they're less likely to trigger abdominal bloating, frequent or incomplete urination, or pregnancy problems.

How Types of Fibroids Affect Your Symptoms

Obviously, a fibroid that is inside the uterine cavity (submucosal) is most likely to impact conception, but large masses in any location can also cause problems. In fact, a submucosal fibroid can make it 70% harder for a woman to get pregnant!  Large fibroids take a toll on fertility in a variety of ways: they can change the shape of your uterus and cervix, or they can block or slow down the movement of a man's sperm or a fertilized embryo. They can also block your fallopian tubes from releasing eggs, or affect the quality and thickness of your uterine lining.

For all these reasons, women who know they have fibroids should consult with their doctors before trying to get pregnant. Even if immediate treatment is not necessary, knowing the size and location of your fibroids will help you make informed decisions throughout your conception and pregnancy journey. It's also important to let your fibroid specialist know about future family planning, as the course of treatment he or she recommends may differ based on your short and long term pregnancy goals.

Treating Fibroids in Houston TX

If you're dealing with fibroids in any location, we're here to help. We offer minimally invasive fibroid treatments. So you can avoid hysterectomy and preserve the possibility of pregnancy. Now, UFE isn't right for every woman. But, when you come see our specialists, we'll discuss your family planning goals. And we'll help you make informed treatment decisions that work for your types of fibroids, and your future wishes. So book an appointment and begin your treatment journey!

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