conception after fibroid removal

[Allyboo]

I'm a 35 African American women that had fibroids removed about 5 years ago. I have recently gotten engaged and my fiance and I would like to have a child what are my chances of getting pregnant. I have experience a little clotting again in my menstral cycles but however we are still trying to get pregnant. What steps do i need to take and is it just to late after having the removal to try and get pregnant? Do you have any advice for me? Thanks

[Shayne Plosker, MD]

Dear Allyboo-

I feel that you can definitely get pregnant.

You can try one of two approaches.

One approach would be to just try to get pregnant, and if it has not happened within 6 months see an infertiilty specialist.

A second approach would be to see an infertility specialist for an evaluation sooner rather than later. You may wish to consider some testing to see where you stand. This would involve an xray test called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) which will determine of your fallopian tubes are open and often can tell if there is any fibroid growth in the endometrial cavity (which is the cavity in the womb where pregnancies implant). Fibroid surgery can sometimes lead to scar tissue or adhesions, so it would be helpful to know if your fallopian tubes are open. In addition a special ultrasound called a saline ultrasound can help to determine with greater accuracy if there is any fibroid growth in the endometrial cavity. MRI can also be helpful. As long as your fallopian tubes are open, and there are no fibroids distorting or growing into the endometrial cavity, then it would be reasonable to try to get pregnant. If your fallopian tubes are blocked, then you can still get pregnant with IVF. If you have fibroids distorting the cavity, then you and your fertility doctor would decide if these fibroids should be removed right away, or if you should try to get pregnant first and only remove them if you do not succeed.

Since you are 35, have a history of already having had fibroid surgery, and your periods might be starting to be accompanied by clotting again, I would lean to getting evaluated first, and then deciding which direction to take.

[desparado]

Hi
I have had my fibroids shrunken but unfortunately smaller ones grew bigger and now I have them again and they can cause problems with implantation. I am also 40 so first I have issues with my egg quality then the fibroids if the egg does fertilize. I know women who have fibroids and ones who had them removed and they conceived. Having fibroids doesn't mean you won't conceive just check that you don't have any other medical complications and even if you do ther is so much help out there but get on it sooner than later ok
Good luck

[Allyboo]

Thanks so much.

[kurvi]

I think if ur fibroids have been removed u do have a good chance, provided all other factors are okay!! I too have fibroids (but not the ones which project into the cavity), also i had an extra large polyp removed and I conceived after that. I guess you should try for a couple of months with lot of positivity if it does not help then consult an RE who wud be able to judge the situation better, All The Best!!!

[DTee]

Had procedure 4 weeks ago and although swelling has subsided, the sutures, which I was told would dissolve and drop off, have not. They appear to still be firmly embedded in the flesh.
I feel as though at this stage the cut has joined already and the sutures are a hindrance to the healing process. Some one please tell me am wrong and I do NOT need to see a Doctor to have them pulled out!

[RunningL8]

I had a huge fibroid (the size of a big apple) removed surgically from the back of my uterus 2 years ago, and I have been pregnant twice since then.  I lost both pregnancies in the first trimester, but these miscarriages were due to my age (mid-40s), not the fibroid surgery.  My uterus is considered "perfect," should we want to try ivf with donor eggs.  So I don't think you should worry.  An ob-gyn can look at your uterus via ultrasound and make sure things are okay, if that would make you feel better.

[Cid32]

A related discussion, Pregnancy after Fibroid surgery was started.