Myomas in The Uterus during Pregnancy
What do you know about myomas in the uterus? If you don’t know much or have never heard about them, don’t worry, because in this article, we’ll provide all the information you need.
First of all, you must remember that during your menstruation, it’s normal to deal with certain discomforts. For example, some women suffer from intense menstrual pain which could be accompanied by various symptoms. Does this sound familiar to you?
There are also women who experience hormonal disorders that produce either unusually long or practically nonexistent menstruation. These symptoms can be quite uncomfortable and they sometimes occur due to a myoma in the uterus.
Hormones are in charge of protecting our bone mass, the cardiovascular system, and the distribution of body fat. When hormone levels are low, they may produce physical and emotional alterations.
Hypersensitivity, sudden changes in behavior and continuous irritability are just a few processes that hormones can play a role in.
Hormonal changes aren’t always dangerous as long as they don’t interfere with a pregnant woman’s daily life. Just like a myoma in the uterus, hormone alterations can be treated.
What are the negative effects that myomas have on pregnancies?
A myoma is a mass of muscle tissue that forms inside the uterus and myometrium. It’s considered to be a benign tumor and it usually doesn’t have any symptoms. Myomas are only a cause for concern when they produce bleeding or pain.
They’re only dangerous in very specific situations. That’s why monitoring the myoma’s size is recommended especially when planning a pregnancy.
There is no friendship, no love, like that of a mother for her child
–Henry Ward Beecher–
During gestation, levels of estrogen increase, and this can cause the tumor to increase in size. In some cases, the myoma may remain the same size or even decrease in size.
Whatever the situation may be, it’s always best to consult your doctor so they can provide the appropriate guidelines to follow.
Complications of myomas in the uterus during pregnancy
If the myoma increases in size, it may become a risk to the fetus. It can also cause the displacement of the placenta which could result in premature labor.
Myomas can also cause restricted intrauterine growth which is a condition characterized by abnormal development of the embryo.
Complications can also be caused by malnutrition, drug ingestion, high blood pressure and certain infections. Your doctor may recommend a cesarean delivery; it may be the safest delivery method for the baby.
If the myoma is in a bad location, it may impede delivery. This makes a cesarean section the only viable option.
If the myoma doesn’t grow and if it’s not in a bad location, the mother may still be able to give birth naturally through the vaginal canal.
How to treat a myoma?
There are several ways to treat a myoma. Some treatment methods are more invasive than others. Treatment options depend on a series of criteria, if there is painful symptomatology, increased growth or multiple myomas, they may have to be eliminated.
Surgical treatment
There are several surgical options. Some of them consist of the removal of the myoma through minimal access using a small camera. This method is only viable if the myoma is small.
Another method is a myomectomy. It’s a surgery in which the uterus is reconstructed. In difficult situations a hysterectomy may be necessary. A hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus.
Pharmaco-therapy
This kind of treatment aims to reduce the concentration of estrogen in the body. This results in the reduction of size of the myomas.
Embolization of the uterine arteries
This process is between pharmacological treatment and the surgical options. Embolization of the uterine arteries are carried out in order to restrict the blood flow to the myoma. This, in effect, cuts of the myoma’s food source.
It’s more simple than a surgery and it doesn’t require general anesthesia. The intervention lasts for between 1 to 3 hours.
Whatever option you decide to select, it’s important to follow your doctor’s guidelines. It’s also equally dangerous to undergo an unnecessary surgery while ignoring warning signs.
Whether you’re looking to get pregnant or not, being aware of the condition of your myomas is vital to your health.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fábregues, F; Peñarrubia, J. Mioma uterino. Manifestaciones clínicas y posibilidades actuales de tratamiento conservador. Medicina Integral. 2002 Vol. 40. Núm. 5. 183-234.
- Mutch, D; Biest, S. Miomas uterinos. Manual MSD – Versión para profesionales. [En línea].
