The masses of tissue cells found growing on the uterine wall are called uterine fibroids. Many women have these growths and are not even aware until they are discovered during a routine exam. Even though these would seem to be a problem, the risks of pregnancy when having uterine fibroids are seldom a danger to the mother or fetus.
They seldom produce any symptoms that are recognizable. The majority of women who are pregnant do not even know they have them. A report from the National Institute of Health states that 77 percent of women have fibroids, while only 25 percent of them actually have any symptoms. Since they rarely pose a health risk, women are not screened specifically for them on a regular basis.
Because of the rise in estrogen levels, these tend to grow in size during pregnancy. The enlarged ones are what cause the problems, and this only being due to their size. At times one growing on a stalk will begin to twist due to the movement of the growing baby. This may cause some discomfort and bleeding.
A pregnant woman is naturally more cautious and careful of her condition. This causes the light spotting and pain caused to become a concern. A baby adjusting and moving for space against the fibroids in the womb will cause some minor pelvic pain. Once bumped or slightly torn from movement, light bleeding can occur. Light spotting is not uncommon, and has been known to usually stop on its own.
The uterine wall’s integrity is definitely changed by the presence of fibroids. Even though these growths are actually a part of the wall itself. This leaves less of a smooth area for the placenta to attach to. In an extreme case, pre-mature labor may develop. Sometimes a miscarriage will be the result, but this is quite rare. Most miscarriages are due to other factors. It still is important to realize they are not without any risks.
When the tissues grow very large, the tendency is for them to force the fetus into unnatural positions. Malpresentation is the medical term for this and is always watched closely by the obstetrician when it is discovered. This does not always mean there is cause for alarm. Obstruction of labor may also be caused by the cell growths invading the birth canal. In these cases a cesarean birth is necessary. These cases are not common either, but they do occur.
Anytime a fibroid is removed, there is hemorrhaging involved. This is unavoidable. So they are not removed when a women is pregnant. It would pose a very real risk to the mother and child, since the bleeding could not be safely controlled. Doctors understand that the risk of leaving the tissue intact until the child is born is much safer. Therefore they are monitored and the problems are dealt with as they happen.
So, even though these growths are a common occurrence in the female population, the problems they cause are very rare.The majority of women go through childbirth with no issues and are not even aware of their presence. The risks to the pregnant woman are to be noted and watch, but are also very unusual.
Learn more about fibroids treatment and symptoms. PCOSandFibroids.com offers also all kind of ovarian cysts related information, such as about ovarian cyst rupture.
