TTC and fibroids

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have been married 2.5 years and decided to start TTC a few months ago. I have fibroids and had surgery to remove them (through my belly button and hips--scar is the size of a ear piercing) in July 2011 and just turned 33. When I had tests done, they said that the fibroids did not impact my fertility, but I am wondering about others' experiences TTC with fibroids.

Before I had surgery, I was severely anemic and had extremely heavy periods (ultra tampon plus an overnight pad had to be changed every half hour) and now that I've had surgery, I have one heavy day where I have to use an ultra tampon and overnight pad for the first day, changing it every hour but then have a light (at least for me period).

I would like to hear others' experiences with TTC with fibroids and/or anemia. Most people would also not consider me overweight (I'm a size 4/6), but I am at the high end of my BMI and trying to lose weight and have been working out every day (core strengthening, running, yoga) since September.

Any advice or reading? Any experience with doctors?

[Anonymous]

I had abdominal surgery 11 years ago to remove several large fibroids and became pregnant 3 months after. (I was told not to try until 3 months after surgery.) I delivered my son almost a year after the surgery. I was about to turn 34 when I got pregnant.

At this point, I would agree that the fibroids (or now lack of) are NOT impacting your fertility. As for the bleeding, that sounds about like what I had after the surgery--heavy for day or so. That doesn't sound like something that would cause anemia.

What jumped out in your post was the fact that you are trying to lose weight when you are a size 4/6. I really don't see any need to do that. If anything, you could be creating undue stress.

You've been trying to get pregnant for 3 months. Keep trying. Most doctors don't see anyone your age until they've been trying for at least 6 months, if not a year.

[Anonymous]

I started TTC with several fibroids and chose not not to have any treatment for them. I got pregnant on my 2nd iui at 37 (gay, no diagnosed infertility). The fibroids grew a lot during pregnancy and by the 2nd tri, I had 8 and the largest was 12mm. Biggest concern for the docs was that if the fibroids blocked my cervix, I would need a c-section. Secondary concern was IUGR in baby, but that was considered less likely. Baby came quite early, but it was due to a different complication.

I know quite a few women who have had success TTC after surgery for fibroids, but I am happy with my decision to do nothing. I never had symptoms like heavy bleeding or pain, if I had, I might have gone for the surgery. I heard a lot of clucking along the lines of "oh, you have fibroids, oh they can make it hard to conceive," but my RE and my midwife both felt that the fibroids should not cause me any big problems, so I just tried to stay optimistic.

Wishing you all the best!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had abdominal surgery 11 years ago to remove several large fibroids and became pregnant 3 months after. (I was told not to try until 3 months after surgery.) I delivered my son almost a year after the surgery. I was about to turn 34 when I got pregnant.

At this point, I would agree that the fibroids (or now lack of) are NOT impacting your fertility. As for the bleeding, that sounds about like what I had after the surgery--heavy for day or so. That doesn't sound like something that would cause anemia.

What jumped out in your post was the fact that you are trying to lose weight when you are a size 4/6. I really don't see any need to do that. If anything, you could be creating undue stress.

You've been trying to get pregnant for 3 months. Keep trying. Most doctors don't see anyone your age until they've been trying for at least 6 months, if not a year.

This. I am overweight and wear a 12. My doctor would like me to be a little lighter but doesn't see it as a big impediment to fertility, but doesn't want me "dieting" just eating well and moderate (not heavy) regular exercise. I have been trying for 9 months and from everything I've read and heard from my doctor and an RE consult is to just keep at it. Read TCOYF, try temping and charting. Go easy on yourself (easier said than done) and just enjoy the practicing part rather than the midnight feedings part.

[Anonymous]

Are the fibroids gone now? (I know you had them removed, but just checking to be sure they didn't grow back). I had 2 fibroids, both very small, that I had checked out in further detail after about 4-5 months of TTC. They were worried about 1 due to its location - could potentially have been blocking implantation. Ultimately the RE recommended against removal though warned it could take longer for TTC due to the fibroids location. Also - the fibroid had not changed the shape or size of my uterus, which is another thing RE's look for - and was not blocking either fallopian tube.

I did have very heavy periods as well, but was never diagnosed as anemic.

It took us about 6 months to conceive. If it had gone much longer, I would have considered removal. The RE told me that removal is completely safe, so I feel sure you're just fine as far as that goes.

Also, I started accupuncture about 3 months into the process and I feel it really helped me. My periods very quickly into treatment became more consistent with reduced clotting/flow (they were extremely heavy previously).

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses. Regarding losing weight, if you saw me on the street, you would find me thin to average, but my BMI is high for my height. I also have an athletic/naturally muscular build. I want to have a healthy pregnancy since my doctor said I will be "high risk" due to fibroids and most likely a candidate for a c-section (which if possible, I'd like to avoid). I am also deemed "high risk" by my obgyn since I was a preemie (3 months early) as a baby.

I waited a year and a few months to TTC after having my fibroid surgery. The fibroids have not reappeared, but until my surgery, I was severely anemic requiring 2 blood transfusions of 8 pints or more each time. I have seen a drastic improvement in my health and well being after the fibroid surgery and blood transfusions. Before the surgery I was very fatigued, pale and weak and with regular exercise, I have better sleep, more energy and an increased interest in sex.

When I had my fibroids removed, they had changed the shape of my uterus (I looked about 6 months pregnant before the surgery) and my stomach muscles are fairly week, hence the core strength training. I am very interested in those of you with fibroids who used a midwife or accupuncture. Could you please tell me more? I am most concerned with the fibroids recurring and interferring with trying to conceive, my ovulation, etc. I went off birth control in April and stopped using barrier methods about three months ago. I have begun charting my cycle, but I tend to have a shorter cycle than "normal". Have you been given any advice about TTC for women with fibroids and/or fibroid surgery? My doctor acted like it was not a big deal TTC and I was freaked out about the future implications to my fertility. I think he thought I was much younger (I look about mid-20s).

T

[Anonymous]

I am really interested in your advice about accupunture and experience with doctors. I go to a practice at GWU and switched doctors due to my first doctor not addressing my concerns about my severe bleeding/abnormal periods and fatigue; the second doctor, who now treats me, saved my life by recognizing that I was anemic. The blood test I got that visit (as the lab was closing because my partner begged the tech to take my blood) saved my life as I got a call a few hours earlier that I was already admitted to the hospital and needed an emergency blood transfusion and then fibroid removal. Thanks so much for the well wishes! I am a typical Type A personality so your care and concern and positive thoughts really mean a lot.

[Anonymous]

My periods changed very quickly with the start of accupuncture plus an all-natural liquid iron supplement the accupuncturist had me take. The accupuncturist told me that the "healthiest" periods start with a strong red flow and do not have excess clotting, and they shouldn't be so heavy that you are soaking through tampons every hour. My period used to start brownish for a couple of days, then would begin VERY heavy with lots of clotting for another 3-4 days. (Sorry if TMI!) After accupuncture, my period started without the 2-day "spotting" leading up to it and the clots drastically reduced. I also had less cramping and fatigue. I conceived my second cycle into doing the accupunture, and I was going 1x per week.

Search this site, lots of good accupuncturist recs. I went to Tulsi Living.

Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

I was also worried that my fibroid would prevent me from getting pregnant but I ended up getting pregnant easily (3 kids). The fibroid never affected my pregnancies in any way (eg implantation always occurred well away from the fibroid so I was never high risk) Also, my fibroid has grown and shrunk at times. The largest it ever got was 5-7 cm. Try not to worry about it - I was so scared when I found out I had one, but it turned out to be nothing.

[Anonymous]

13:32 here--before I had surgery to remove the fibroid, the doc said my uterus was the size of a 16week pregnancy. I had an HSG, and you see on the x-ray how distended my uterus was. As I said, I got pregnant right away and then again 4 years later. No sign of any fibroids returning.

[Anonymous]

I have a fibroid on the outside of my uterus. It was about 8 cm when I was on birth control and it went down to 4 cm when I went off. I got pregnant on the first try but miscarried (chrom issue). Had a saline injected ultrasound to check integrity of uterus and all was fine. Got preg again after 6 months and had a boy two months ago. Fibroid went up to 8 cm. Had a csection for a variety of reasons. I'm also heavy - size 10/12 when I got pregnant. Gained 19 lbs during pregnancy and lost it by 6 weeks. I still have some work to do to get to a healthier weight. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who had a number of fibroids removed and was told it would be almost impossible for her to get pregnant naturally, so she and her husband didn't bother with birth control. About a year later, they had their sweet little boy.

[Anonymous]

I have two fibroids but I didn't find out about them until I was pregnant. I got pregnant quickly twice with no problems. I had to have csections but that wasn't because of the fibroids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am also 33 and had multiple large fibroids removed in July 2009. You're doing the best thing possible by TTC and keeping at it now that the surgery cleared things up. After 16 months TTC with accupuncture (and definitely at least 20 pounds overweight due to a crazy job and other life events), I am now pregnant, but it's super early. It sounds like your fibroids were interior, if they were that vascular (blood-consuming) and caused anemia as well as altering the shape of your uterus. Mine were posterior (sticking up and outside of the uterus), and I had no symptoms other than having to pee all the time, but they were subserosal, so they had started creeping into the uterine wall.

It is good news if you are having regular ultrasounds and you said they have not reappeared. What did your surgeon say afterwards about potential scarring or how everything "looked"? Do you have a copy of your surgical report? My surgeon went over everything she saw and why I would not likely have scarring or adhesions in certain areas that might affect fertility. But some women who have fibroid surgery do wind up with some scarring in the "wrong" places - it totally depends on the location of them. Have you had an HSG to see if your tubes are blocked or narrowed by any scar tissue? Your obgyn can order one.

Re: the C-section, again, depending on the extent and scope of the surgery, if you were advised to have one by your surgeon for subsequent pregancies, do it. A scheduled c-section is nothing to be afraid of and there are lots of upsides to it. And if your core muscles are already weakened, pushing during labor could be difficult. You may risk uterine rupture, hemorrhaging or other complications. I am really surprised given how you described your fibroids that they didn't say a c-section was mandatory. They are for me, and like I said, mine weren't even all the way inside the uterine wall.