FIBROID COMPLICATIONS YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF

Though many women will have little to no symptoms, others may experience painful, heavy periods, pregnancy complications, and more. There are also further health complications that may arise from uterine fibroids, if not treated, like the following:

 

 

• Risky Pregnancy

The presence of fibroids during pregnancy is very risky, they can cause problems with the development of the baby or difficulties at the time of labor.

During childbirth the following complications may exist, with the presence of fibroids if not treated on time:

Poor Contraction – Disruption of normal uterine tissue due to fibroids can lead to weak contractions. This makes it difficult to achieve full cervical dilation during labor and may require a cesarean delivery.
Postpartum Hemorrhage – A bad contraction can lead to bleeding after delivery. If the uterus cannot contract, the uterine blood vessels that feed the placenta may continue to bleed.
Postpartum hemorrhage is a medical emergency and usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours after delivery.

Fibroids if they are not treated can, if they are very large, block the vagina and make a cesarean section necessary or cause spontaneous abortion.

 

• Anemia

Anemia occurs when the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body or a lack of a protein called hemoglobin (Hb).

To find out if you have anemia, a type of test called a complete blood count (CBC) is done, because anemia can not always present notable symptoms.

Uterine fibroids in some cases can lead to anemia, since the periods can become longer and with considerable increased bleeding, between menstrual periods.
Some kinds of fibroids can cause more bleeding than others, like submucosal fibroids located within the uterine lining can cause severe bleeding, fibroids that are within the uterine muscle (intramural fibroids) can increase blood flow to the uterus, thus affecting its ability to control blood flow by increasing the size of the uterus. uterine cavity; thus increasing the menstrual flow and possibly producing with this the formation of large clots.

 

• Infertility

Infertility is the inability to get pregnant; it can occur in cases where a woman has large fibroids.
Women with fibroids and their partners should be carefully evaluated for other fertility problems before fibroids are treated.

There are several ways that uterine fibroids can reduce fertility:

-If the fibroids are submucosal or grow on the inner wall of the uterus and in the uterine cavity, they can prevent the implantation and growth of the embryo, causing infertility or loss of pregnancy.

-Fibroids can block the fallopian tubes. They can affect the size of the lining of the uterine cavity.

-If fibroids are large enough to distort the structure of the uterus, this can lead to poor fertility results, regardless of whether they grow in the uterine cavity or the uterine wall.

-Changes in the shape of the uterus because of a fibroid can interfere with the movement of the sperm or embryo.

-Changes in the shape of the cervix, because of a fibroid can affect the number of sperm that can enter the uterus.

 

• Twisting or rupture of the fibroid

Fibroids that grow on small stalks inside or outside the uterus are more likely to rupture than those that grow on the wall of the uterus or develop within the uterine cavity.

Symptoms of a ruptured fibroid include:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever
• White blood cells in high amounts

The rupture of a fibroid can occur for the following causes:

-In pregnancy, due to increased blood pressure in the veins.
-Increased pressure in the abdominal cavity.
-Detachment of the fibroma of the uterus, due to some injury.

Torsion of a pedunculated fibroma resulting in an acute abdomen requires immediate surgical intervention, as prolonged torsion can lead to ischemic gangrene and resulting peritonitis.

 

Looking to find an alternative to a hysterectomy for help with your uterine fibroids? Learn about our minimally invasive treatment serving Miami, Pompano, and South Florida. Broward County: (954) 884-8150 Dade County: ​​(305) 907-6191.

If you are in the Miami or South Florida area, feel free to request a consultation or even a virtual office visit so you can speak to one of our doctors from the comfort of your home.

For more information on Uterine Fibroid Embolization or to schedule an appointment call: (305) 907-6191