During a c-section to deliver my son (and first child), the doctor discovered a rather large fibroid (little bigger than a tennis ball). It turns out the fibroid affected our son's growth. He was born three weeks early, but weighed only 4 pounds, 2 ounces.
I had an ultrasound of the fibroid about five months after the c-section and it had shrunk to the size of a golf ball.
My OBGYN gave me four options: (1) hysterectomy - I don't want to do this as we plan on having other children; (2) myectomy - where just the fibroid is removed. He said this could increase my chances of infertility by 25-50% (we already have some infertility issues so we don't really want to go this route if the statistic is accurate); (3) medication - which he said only stops growth while it is being taken. It would regrow during any pregnancy and I would be right back where I started; or (4) nothing, and hope that the fibroid either does not affect a subsequent pregnancy or that it affects it late, like it did in my first pregnancy. (I have heard that some doctors are starting to use lasers on fibroids, but my doctor does not.)
Did anyone else have a fibroid affect their child's growth in-utero, and what did you do about it? Are there other options? Also, if you have a doctor recommendation for someone who is good with fibroid issues, I would really appreciate hearing it because we would like to get a second opinion in any case before we try for baby #2.
Thank you.
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My sister had surgery earlier this year to remove several fibroids, endometriosis and a cyst on an ovary. She went to a reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Putman and he was fabulous. She's been trying to get pregnant since the surgery and he has been following her and being extremely pro-active with having her chart temps, ovulations, etc. and having her come in for sonograms to make sure the ovaries are working and doing bloodwork to watch for hormonal imbalances. I think if you are done having children then any doctor will do but if you aren't finished then you should see an RE. Dr. Putman removes fibroids every week while preserving fertility. Dr. Putman works out of Baylor in Dallas and I can't say enough about how impressed I am with him and he isn't even my doctor. My sister absolutely loves him. Good luck to you!
Hi,
I had the exact same thing! The doctor would not remove the fibroid because it was in the muscle tissue and said that removing it would cause more problems than it being there. It only grows during pregnancy and shrunk to the size of a pea after. Both of my girls were breech because they couldn't turn and I had to have c-sections. My fist daughter was born 4 weeks early and weighed 6lbs. 6oz. My second daughter was born 5 weeks early and weighed 4lbs. 15oz. I had such problems with my second pregnancy (not necessarily related to the fibroid), that we decided to adopt our third child (we also wanted a son and didn't want to take my chances).
So, if you can have it removed, I think that might be the best thing. Sounds like yours is a bigger than mine is. It hasn't caused me any problems when I'm not pregnant.
Hi C.H. I have a daughter who turned 6 in May. I found out I had fibroids when I got pregnant with her. In other words, it was too late to remove them until after birth. I had a high risk pregnanacy and was on bed rest for a week in November, and a week in December. After that, I didn't have any more complications until the last week in April. My daughter was born 2-3 weeks early. She weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces. The only problem that she had was latching on for breast feeding. It took her about 2 weeks to get it-LOL. For the last 6 years, I hadn't done anything about my fibroids. The only problem I had was that I was having bad cramps and heavy bleeding. In January, I started to have more serious complications and had a myectomy. When I went for my sonogram, I was told that they could only see 7-8 nice sized fibroids but when I spoke to my doctor, he told me that they removed 35 fibroids. The sonogram couldn't see all of them because they hide behind one another. My surgery that was suppose to take 1 hour took 3 hours. My doctor is Dr. Henry and I feel that he saved my daughters life and my life. His number is ###-###-####. Good luck. If you have any more questions, I will be happy to answer them.
S.
I have never heard that fibroid removal caused infertility problems; it was my understanding that the fibroids caused the fertility issues. After removal, there was scar tissue on the uterus, and that caused some fertility issues, as there is less room for the egg to attach - but can't see how that is a worse issue than the fibroid itself. I had six removed, 3 large as grapefruits and 3 like oranges. I was an older mother, and we ended up using in-vitro to assist in getting pregnant. However, after my removal, I had two sets of twins, both quite healthy. I used Dr. Camille Clark at Medical city for the removal and as my ob/gyn and surgeon, with Dr. Douglas for the in-vitrol and fertility issues. I was high risk due to the fibroid removal, so they had a team that watched me weekly. I had fine doctors and terrific delivery. I would remove them before trying to have more children, if it were me.
Hi, I had fibroids removed via laparoscopy(?) before I got pregnant. Before the surgery, we had been trying 3 years. The doctor said my fibroids would decrease the chances of conception by 30%. After the surgery, we conceived the first month. My surgery was at a day surgery center. I left that afternoon. The incision was less than 1/2 an inch. My doctor was Dr James Douglas. http://www.ivfplano.com/index.html
M.
I suggest to visit another ob/gyn. I had surgery 3 times for endometriosis (which caused infertility issues) we tried IUI 4-5 times with no success. My ob/gyn was the one who performed 2 of my 3 surgeries and IUI, and eventually delivered my twins. I went to and RE Dr. Douglas in Plano to perform my last surgery and IVF. We were successful on our first IVF cycle. I had my twins without issues. Then on my first annual exam after them my dr. found a fibroid tumor (about golf ball size). He said he will leave it and has been monitoring with sonograms. He did say that it could cause issues if we got pregnant again, but he didn't see that happening because of it's size. I say visit another ob/gyn. I go to Dr. Steven Harris in Dallas and Frisco. and my RE is Dr. James Douglas in Plano. Good luck and keep us posted on what you do. God Bless.
CH
First off, congratulations on your beautiful baby boy. I have a little boy, 16 months old now, and truly a blessing from above. I have fibroids in my uterus. In the summer of 2006 I got pregnant, not realizing I had the fibroids and ended up having a miscarriage at 9 weeks. Although the doctors never give an exact "cause" of a miscarriage, my dr said the fibroid attached to the fetus and she felt basically caused the miscarriage. As I'm sure you're aware fibroids need blood to survive/grow and the fibroid took that from my baby. My options were the same as yours and I elected for the myectomy. I didn't want to take the chance of getting pregnant again with the fibroids there just waiting for a baby to hook onto and chancing another miscarriage--too hard on the heart, if you know what i mean. Anyway, it was a very easy out patient procedure in which the Dr discovered the fibroid took up the entire back side of my uterus. That was in April of 2007. The Dr said if i didn't get pregnant by the end of summer we could look at fertility options. I was turning 40 at the end of that summer and really didn't want to undergo treatments (we also have a 12 year old son) so my husband and i just decided to see what happends. Well, I got pregnant in early July and had a beautiful healthy boy at the end of march (38weeks) Had to have a c-section because of the myectomy (dr didn't want extra pressure on uterus during delivery). Pregnancy went fine and everything has worked out well. I can't tell you which option you should go with but just wanted to give you a happy ending story for someone in your situation. The fertility doctor did the myectomy and he was great to work with--his name is Dr James Douglas.
Best of luck!!
fyi-haven't had any difficulties with the fibroids since--knock on wood :)
I had a myomectomy in 2003.I was actually pregnant when I was informed I had a fibroid which was the size of a grape fruit, and I lost the baby I was carrying at the time. In 2006 I had a beautiful daughter with no complications. My doctor did not inform me that a myomectomy affects your fertility level.I was scared at first but it did not effect my ability to have children. The only reason I had the myomectomy was because at the time I knew of only the myomectomy and hysterectomy. The myomectomy worked great for me as I was experiening great blood lose and blood clots, and was afraid to go places because at any time I would begin to bleed in large amounts. I had my myomectomy at Las Colinas Medical Center and I'm truly satisfied with the surgery. I had no issues with having my current child. I just wanted to share my experience and say that if it's meant to be you will have no problems with baby number 2, good luck.
