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Book NowGetting Pregnant With Fibroids
Finding out you have fibroids when you are trying to grow your family can feel overwhelming.
It is completely natural to feel anxious, to wonder if this diagnosis changes your path to parenthood, or to feel worn down by heavy periods and pain while navigating the emotional ups and downs of trying to conceive.
It may help to know that many women with fibroids conceive naturally and carry healthy pregnancies. How fibroids might affect fertility depends on individual factors such as their size, number, and location.
For those seeking medical advice, fibroid treatment Melbourne options range from clinical monitoring to minimally invasive procedures.
Dr Hugo Fernandes offers consultations to discuss individual clinical needs, answer questions, and help explore suitable management options aligned with your health goals.
Getting Pregnant With Fibroids: What the Evidence Shows
How Fibroids Affect Fertility
How Fibroids Behave During Pregnancy
Fibroid Treatment Options Before Pregnancy
Answering Your Fibroid and Fertility Care Questions
Speak With a Melbourne Fibroid and Fertility Specialist
Read on to Learn
- Fibroids are common, but they are the sole cause of infertility in only 2% to 3% of cases.
- Location matters most, with submucosal fibroids inside the uterine cavity posing the highest risk to conception.
- Most pregnancies with fibroids progress normally, and surgical removal is generally delayed until after birth.
- Pre-conception management ranges from clinical monitoring to fertility-preserving procedures like laparoscopic myomectomy.
- Dr Hugo Fernandes offers tailored consultations in Melbourne to assess fibroid positioning and guide personalised care plans.
Getting Pregnant With Fibroids: What the Evidence Shows
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the muscle wall of the uterus, and they are very common during the reproductive years.
Most do not interfere with conception at all. According to Victoria’s Better Health Channel, up to 70% of women aged under 50 have fibroids, yet the majority still fall pregnant without difficulty.
The question is not whether you have fibroids, but whether they sit somewhere that matters.
In practice, fibroids are the only clinical cause of infertility in about 2 to 3% of cases, so trouble conceiving is rarely down to fibroids alone. More often, fibroids appear alongside other factors that a fertility assessment may identify.
How Fibroids Affect Fertility
Fibroids may affect fertility when they change the shape of the uterine cavity, press on the fallopian tubes, or disrupt the lining where an embryo implants.
Location matters far more than size. Fibroids that grow into the cavity tend to cause the most difficulty for conception. Submucosal fibroids may act like a foreign body inside the cavity, while fibroids near the tubes may block the path between sperm and egg.
The table below shows how each type typically behaves.
| Fibroid Type | Where it Grows | Typical Effect on Fertility |
|---|---|---|
| Submucosal | Into the uterine cavity | Most likely to affect implantation and raise miscarriage risk |
| Intramural | Within the uterine wall | May distort the cavity and disrupt sperm transport if large |
| Subserosal | On the outer surface of the uterus | Usually little effect on fertility unless very large |
| Cervical or near the tubes | Near the cervix or fallopian tubes | May block sperm or embryo passage |
“Navigating fertility struggles while digesting a diagnosis like fibroids can feel overwhelming and deeply lonely. Please remember that a scan result does not define your future as a parent. It simply tells us where to extend our care.”
– Dr Hugo Fernandes, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist
How Fibroids Behave During Pregnancy
Most pregnancies affected by fibroids progress normally, but larger or multiple fibroids may raise the risk of complications. Their behaviour is hard to predict: some grow during pregnancy, while others stay stable or shrink afterwards.
When problems do occur, they may include pain from rapid fibroid growth, increased miscarriage risk, bleeding, an unusual position of the baby, preterm labour, and a higher chance of caesarean delivery.
Fibroids are generally not removed during pregnancy, because surgery at this stage carries a high risk to both mother and baby and is almost always delayed until after birth.
Fibroid Treatment Options Before Pregnancy
If fibroids are affecting your fertility or causing symptoms, treating them before you conceive may improve your chances.
The right option depends on the size, number, and position of the fibroids, and on your family plans. Fertility-preserving treatments aim to remove or manage fibroids while protecting the uterus.
Common approaches include:
- Monitoring: small, symptom-free fibroids are often simply watched over time.
- Medical Management: hormonal treatments may ease symptoms, though some are not suitable while trying to conceive.
- Hysteroscopic Myomectomy: removes submucosal fibroids through the vagina, with no incision.
- Laparoscopic Myomectomy: keyhole removal of fibroids from the wall of the uterus.
After a laparoscopic myomectomy, the hospital stay is usually one to two nights, with around two to three weeks off work.
Answering Your Fibroid and Fertility Care Questions
How are fibroids diagnosed?
Fibroids are usually found with a pelvic ultrasound. In some cases, a hysteroscopy, where a thin camera is passed into the uterus, gives a clearer view of fibroids inside the cavity.
Do I need to have fibroids removed before starting IVF?
Not always. Submucosal fibroids inside the cavity are often removed first, as they may lower implantation success, while fibroids on the outer wall are usually left in place. A fertility specialist assesses their type and position to decide what suits your situation.
How long should I wait to try for a baby after fibroid surgery?
This depends on the type of surgery and how much of the uterine wall was involved. You’ll be advised on a suitable timeframe once recovery is confirmed, so the uterus is ready for pregnancy.
Can fibroids grow back after they are removed?
Existing fibroids do not return once removed, but new fibroids may develop over time. Regular review may help identify any regrowth early, particularly if you are planning future pregnancies.
Can I have a natural birth if I have fibroids?
Many women with fibroids have a vaginal birth. The position of a fibroid, rather than its presence, is what may make a caesarean more likely, and your obstetric team may guide the most appropriate option.
Speak With a Melbourne Fibroid and Fertility Specialist
A fibroid diagnosis while trying to conceive raises a lot of questions, and the answers are rarely one-size-fits-all.
What matters is understanding where your fibroids sit, whether they may affect conception or pregnancy, and which treatment protects your fertility. With a thorough assessment, you may have more options than you expect.
Book a consultation with Dr Hugo to discuss your fibroids, your fertility goals, and a plan built around your circumstances. At our clinic, patients may access fibroid and fertility care in one place.
This content is provided for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised professional advice. Individual needs and conditions vary. Please consult a qualified practitioner to discuss a treatment plan suited to your situation.
