FET with fibroids and using Prostap

[AnnaB11]

Hi there, Wondering has anyone experience with a FET with pre existing fibroids?

I was due to have the transfer this week but it was cancelled after an ultrasound last week showed that the fibroid has grown in the last couple of weeks (as I was taking oestrogen tablets). they also couldn't see a triple pattern on the lining at that scan.

They've now suggested I take the Prostap injections for 3 months to shrink the fibroid and get a hysteroscopy to check the lining .

Has anyone ever come across this? Taking prostap in advance of a FET to shrink a fibroid?

I'm worried that I need to take oestrogen before the transfer again next time and we'll just be back to square one, perhaps with a smaller fibroid but there's no guarantee of that.

Any advice , experience, info appreciated 🙂

[Nes1005]

Hello

Just wanted to say, sorry about the fibroid, I have had lots of them reoccurring and they are horrible things. I’m not sure where yours is but that is the key question, I’ve had fibroids removed 3 times. You can see the history and time line of these ops in my Bio. In my case they would have prevented pregnancy. The last one I had removed last year around August time was 0.4m at the beginning of last year, and I fell pregnant naturally by miracle last April, sadly baby had no heartbeat at 7 weeks, was missed miscarriage but at the same the fibroid grew with that pregnancy to 4cm, my specialist fibroid consultant who had previously done my fibroid surgery said unfortunately the size it had grown to and where it was would hinder pregnancy again so it needed another surgery to take it out. Personally I’ve never had the Prostap to shrink a fibroid but I would be wary as they really are buggers and could grow back with a pregnancy and or esstrogen. I’ll never know if the one that grew so quickly last year had anything to do with the miscarriage, I do know that the consultant said the fibroid had a really strong blood supply so that’s not good.

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant by some sort of miracle which is amazing, on what was to be our last cycle with my own eggs (I am 44), just to say - I refused any estrogen on this last transfer specifically for the reason of not causing any fibroid seedlings that could be hiding to grow…so I had a natural modified frozen transfer, just trigger shot along with clexane, aspirin, progesterone, Hydroxy etc.

I was always worried that I might not be able to ever get and stay pregnant because I’d had 3 fibroid removals in total, but my consultant always said it was entirely possible and finally we are getting small steps closer to hopefully bringing our little rainbow home…

All fibroid situations are so different, depending on size/quantity/location but I would say make sure you have an expert consultant in fibroids /fibroid removal and make sure that it isn’t in a place where it actually just needs removing….

Wishing you all the very best to get it sorted, sending you so much luck and best wishes for your next steps.

xxxx

[AnnaB11 in reply to Nes1005]

Thank you so much for your reply and firstly massive congratulations and a huge well done for persevering on your journey for so long. It's really not easy and from reading your bio you really have had quite the journey. It must have been so difficult. My situation is very similar to where you were a couple of years ago.

I had a myomectomy in January 2022, 2 large fibroids were removed but one small one was left as it was too risky to remove and it wasn't in a location that would cause an issue for fertility and it was just 2cm at that time.

We then got pregnant naturally in December 2022 ( we were planning on starting IVF the next month so we were delighted it happened naturally)

That ended in a missed miscarriage at 7 weeks like yourself, at the time because it was so early in the pregnancy my gynie said it was chemical as opposed to being caused by the fibroid but who knows as you say!

Like yourself the existing fibroid grew hugely during that pregnancy and 2 other fibroids appeared. At one point during the 6 week scan the 2cm fibroid measured 11cm! However they all shrank back after the pregnancy ended. (Largest one shrank back to 5cm).

Now however, because of the oestrogen they gave before implantation that's at 8cm. It's the size of this as opposed to the location that's worrying them. That along with the fact I didn't have the triple pattern on the lining .

That's really interesting that you could do a transfer without taking oestrogen, that was never discussed as an option with me!

Also really interesting you had 3 removals, my gynie is very hesitant to do any further surgery, altho mine is too large for keyhole . .. I want to speak to him on doing key hole after shrinking it.

Would you mind me asking, was there any concern over the lining being thick enough for the transfer when you didn't take oestrogen in advance of it? Or was there anything else you did to improve the lining ?? ( I'm doing acupuncture and have a fertility nutritionist but always concerned I'm missing something)

I'm also concerned at the blood flow to the existing large fibroid and the fact it seems to suck up any oestrogen I have .

Thank you again for your reply and your advice and congratulations again, lovely to hear it's possible 🙂