At Sunrise Fertility and IVF, we aim to provide thorough information and supportive care for women facing various reproductive health issues. Uterine fibroids are a common concern that can affect a woman’s fertility and overall quality of life. Here’s everything you need to understand about uterine fibroids, their impact on health, and how we can help manage this condition.

What are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Also known as leiomyomas or myomas, these growths can vary in size and number, and while some remain small and symptomless, others can grow large and cause significant health issues.

Causes of Uterine Fibroids

The exact cause of uterine fibroids is not clearly understood but is believed to be influenced by:

• Hormonal Factors: Estrogen and progesterone, hormones that stimulate the development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids.
• Genetic Changes: Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in normal uterine muscle cells.
• Other Growth Factors: Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth.

How Uterine Fibroids Affect Fertility

While many women with fibroids can conceive naturally and have uncomplicated pregnancies, fibroids can interfere with conception or a successful pregnancy by:

• Distorting the shape of the cervix, which may affect the number of sperm that can enter the uterus.
• Changing the shape of the uterus, which can interfere with the movement of sperm or embryo.
• Blocking the fallopian tubes, preventing sperm from reaching the egg.
• Impacting blood flow to the uterine cavity, decreasing the ability of an embryo to implant and grow.