Fibroids and AR

[Starryeyes1984]

Hello, does anyone have any experience of undergoing any assisted reproduction with fibroids? I’ve been doing a lot of research on it and would really love to know other people’s experiences. I have 3 fibroids, the largest of which is 4x4. The others are under 2cm. They’re all intramural or subserosal and cause me know issues. It’s been confirmed through hysteroscopy and 3D scan that they aren’t impacting the endometrium but the private clinic we’ve selected for IVF is saying they’re an issue and has suggested 3 months of prostap to shrink them a bit before starting. I gather it only reduces the size by c. 30% and they grow back when you stop taking it anyway. From everything I’ve read I do wonder if shrinking them really makes a difference to odds of success. Has anyone else had advice like this or success stories with fibroids where they haven’t been surgically removed?

Thanks in advance ladies!

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

No direct experience but would say also research possible impact in pregnancy- one friend found her fibroids were the probable cause of placenta Previa leading to c section being necessary.

[Abaco]

I have 3 subserosal fibroids, in November I had a cornual ectopic and they thought my fibroids could have been impacting on the shape of my uterus, my clinic in Poland didn't think this was the case as I had a previous hysteroscopy to check this, I also had 1 in cavity fibroid which they removed and thankfully hasn't grown back! The surgeon in the U.K. wanted me to have a follow up MRI to double check and the results were good, the fibroids are not impacting on the shape at all, the surgeon has given us the go ahead to try again in May and said they are fine where they are and arent a problem. If yours were fine on the 3D scan and arent having any impact then they are probably best left alone. All the very best x

[Starryeyes1984 in reply to Abaco]

Sorry to hear about your ectopic. It’s positive that the fibroid isn’t growing back and you can try again soon. I do wonder if my clinic is being overly conservative. Nothing I’ve seen tells me that taking drugs to shrink them a bit will make any difference to outcomes and I hate unnecessary medical intervention....which is hilarious given how much I require! I guess if it doesn’t work I may end up wondering if it was the fibroids though.

[Abaco in reply to Starryeyes1984]

Thank you, has taken a long time to find peace with it all but can't give up no matter how petrified I am of it happening again! We next go for transfer in may and it can't come soon enough!

The surgeon never mentioned to me about trying to shrink them only advising me to have a myomectomy to remove them if they were troublesome which thankfully now I don't have to have! Subserosal fibroids are rarely a problem but I can totally understand your thoughts on it all, tough decision to make but you know your body so go with your gut instinct about things x

[ICSIBaby86]

Hiya lovely if you read my story I’ve had a nightmare with fibroids ! When going for my first round of icsi in the NHS my fibroid was picked up on, they didn’t seem to think it was a problem. I continued with treatment, to cut a long story short I had 3 failed embryo implantations, with good quality blasts. On my last cycle the consultant said actually I do think that fibroid is causing an issue, but we’d already lost those embryos. So the damage was done as far as we was concerned. My fibroid has also increased in size due to ivf hormones. I went to a private clinic, they did one ultra sound on me and said Oh my goodness that has to go ! They refused to even take my money until I had it removed. I tried esmya for 3 months and unfortunately it did not shrink my fibroid. The next step was open myomectomy surgery, I had it removed in September. The surgeon said it was the size of an orange and wrapped around my womb no wonder my IVF has failed. I wish I was told this from day 1, going through ivf and losing 3 embryos was devastating for me and my partner. We do feel like the nhs were negligent allowing us to go ahead with ivf with it there. I don’t want to scare you by any mean ! It really is a personal situation depending on where your fibroids are located etc ! I do think if the private clinic suggests shrinking them, it’s the best option, it is frustrating waiting and having more hormones etc! But if it will give you the best possible outcome and save you heartache like ours I would definitely go for it. Depending on the size and location of fibroid they can be removed via hysterscopic resection and key hole surgery, mine had just grown so big I had to be opened up ! I do not regret it one bit. If you have any questions please feel free to message me xxxxx

[ICSIBaby86 in reply to ICSIBaby86]

P.s I should also mention that when I had an hysterscopy it didn’t appear the fibroids were causing any problems my endometrium was fine ! However they then performed an HSG where they put a dye in your womb then they were able to see that actually it was distorting the cavity ! It’s worth asking for an hsg for a clearer picture xxx

[Hidden]

Hi I’ve got loads of fibroids - biggest being about 6cmx6cm and it’s pushing down on my womb and making it banana shaped

I talked about surgery but was told scar tissue was more risky than the fibroids themselves (I’ve already had a myomectomy and several hysteroscopies).

I personally don’t see why you would bother shrinking them as the are likely to grow bigger with pregnancy anyway??

I guess I have very different opinions than some other posters despite having been through similar (my biggest when removed was 12cmx12cm) happy to respond to any queries via message xx

[Starryeyes1984 in reply to Hidden]

That’s what I thought! I honestly don’t see what difference turning a 4cm fibroid into a 3cm fibroid will make. I’m heading for early menopause anyway but the idea of being plunged into menopause for a few months by prostap does not appeal. My husband wants to go for it but he doesn’t have to deal with the side effects!