IVF & Uterine Fibroids

About 40 % of all women in their reproductive lives are affected by uterine fibroids. There are three main types of fibroids, defined by their location. Intramural fibroids are embedded in the uterine wall, subserosal fibroids growing outside the uterus and submucosal fibroids, which develop in the uterine wall but extend into the uterus.

Research suggests that subserosal or intramural fibroids are not serious threats to fertility. “If a woman has no known fertility problems and experiences no pain or pressure on the bladder, it is better to leave the fibroids alone”, comments Dr. Hummel. Fibroid treatment may not be required if a couple already has been diagnosed with infertility and starting IVF treatment. Studies showed that women with subserosal fibroids undergoing IVF treatment appear to become pregnant as likely as women without fibroids. For the group of women with intramural fibroids the chances of implantation is about 19% lower, but has a similar delivery success rate.