Fibroids, one of the problems seen quite frequently in women, can be present for long years without being noticed at all. Approximately 75% of women are not even aware that they have a fibroid problem. Fibroids, only one of the problems that one in every four women experiences at some point in her life, appear, contrary to what is thought, as benign tumours. Fibroids, whose frequency in women up to the age of 35 is around 25%, can cause infertility or miscarriage.
What is the effect of a fibroid in recurrent pregnancy loss?
According to the research carried out among women who have a fibroid problem, it was observed that the rate of miscarriage is very high. The probability of miscarriage in women who have a fibroid problem when they become pregnant is approximately 40%. Fibroids increase the probability of miscarriage in the early period. The main reason for this is that fibroids cause disturbances in the endometrial tissue and in the uterus, that they grow more because of the oestrogen hormone that increases due to the pregnancy, and that they do not allow the placenta to develop. Just as fibroids cause miscarriage, they can also cause premature birth. Women who have had a miscarriage because of a fibroid can become pregnant again after fibroid treatment and can have children.
So do they prevent having children?
Because of the places where they are located, fibroids can prevent the fertilised egg from implanting in the uterus. In such situations, unfortunately, becoming pregnant is not possible. Growing fibroids over time press on the tubes. This prevents or makes it difficult for the sperm cells to reach the egg cell. According to the research carried out, it has been seen that in 3% of women who cannot have children the cause of this problem is fibroids.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
It is impossible for a woman to understand whether she has a fibroid problem without serious symptoms. It is only thanks to a gynaecological examination carried out regularly that fibroids are revealed while they are still small. If routine check-ups are neglected, recurring problems such as heavier bleeding than normal during the period, spotting or bleeding between two periods, abdominal pain, severe pain during the period, bleeding after sexual intercourse, frequent urination, pressure in the back passage and constipation can be evaluated as symptoms of fibroids. When even one of these situations is noticed, it is necessary to go for a doctor’s check-up and to quickly prevent the problems that fibroids may cause.