Can uterine fibroids affect pregnancy?

  Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in women and are commonly found in women of childbearing age. According to statistics, about 20% of women over the age of 30 have fibroids. Whether fibroids affect pregnancy or delivery is mainly related to the size and location of fibroids.  The uterine wall is divided into plasma layer, myometrium and mucosa layer from outside to inside, and fibroids are divided into interstitial fibroids, subplasma fibroids and submucosal fibroids according to the relationship between fibroids and the muscle wall. In general, fibroids that do not protrude into the uterine cavity and smaller fibroids have less impact on the endometrium and the morphology of the uterine cavity, so these patients can become pregnant.  Submucosal fibroids that protrude into the uterine cavity and have a close relationship with the endometrium can interfere with the fertilization of the egg and lead to early miscarriage; interstitial fibroids located in the myometrium can cause miscarriage due to enlargement and distortion of the uterine cavity or inadequate blood supply to the endometrium if they are large; subplasmal fibroids that protrude from the surface of the uterus can cause miscarriage if they are large. Subplasma fibroids that protrude from the surface of the uterus can cause acute abdominal pain if they twist and rupture, and require surgery. Low-growing fibroids can prevent the fetal head from descending, increasing the risk of abnormal fetal position, placenta hypoplasia, placenta previa, obstructed labor and delivery during late pregnancy and delivery. Moreover, during pregnancy, fibroids are prone to a special type of necrosis and degeneration, which can cause severe abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and fever in severe cases, but most of them can be relieved by conservative treatment.  Most fibroids do not affect pregnancy, depending on their size and location. Some types of fibroids have the potential to affect a woman’s ability to conceive or cause miscarriage and abnormal delivery. It is recommended that women undergo a preconception checkup when preparing for pregnancy, and if the checkup reveals fibroids that require treatment, they should be treated early.