Uterine fibroids looking like small potatoes are non- cancerous growths of the womb (uterus). Fibroids change shape and characteristics of healthy uterine tissue and may cause pain, heavy periods and bleeding, pressure on the bladder with frequent urination and other symptoms.

Large fibroids are more often symptomatic due to the size. Large fibroids need to be surgically removed from the uterus (myomectomy) before pregnancy, to relief symptoms and to allow pregnancy to develop and baby to grow.

Following surgery, myomectomy or cesarean section, uterus is weaker and ‘not as good’ as new. Many women never conceive after myomectomy due to uterine scarring that impairs implantation and pregnancy growth. Scarring may damage fallopian tubes anatomically connected with uterus.

Fibroids are the most common cause for removal of uterus (hysterectomy).

Smaller Fibroids
In contract to large myomas, where myomectomy benefits outweigh surgical risks, patient with smaller fibroids may have successful pregnancy without surgery.

Four to eight months healing time needed after myomectomy together and uterine scarring may lower chances for pregnancy, especially in older patients. Hysteroscopy (look inside uterus with a scope), a diagnostic office procedure frequently facilitates decision-making process for patients with fibroids. Oocyte or embryo freezing before myomectomy is a valid consideration.

Uterine artery embolization for fibroid uterus using various techniques carries risk of irreversible amenorrhea (no periods) and no chances for pregnancy afterwards.