Does Uterine Fibroid Adversely Affect Obstetric Outcome of Pregnancy?

Background: Fibroid is the most common benign tumor of the uterus and if associated with pregnancy may adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy. Objective of the present study was to assess the obstetric outcome (maternal and fetal) in pregnancy with fibroid.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed over a period from May 2015 to August 2017 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in Zagazig University Hospitals, Egypt. 64 pregnant patients with >2 cm fibroid were taken in the study. Routine fundamental investigations were done for all. They were followed during antenatal period clinically and scanned by ultrasonogram which was done at booking visit and during subsequent visits to assess the change in the size of the fibroid and other obstetric complications. Maternal age, parity, size of fibroid, complications during pregnancy, and mode of delivery were noted.

Results: 64 pregnant patients with uterine fibroids were recruited; 47 of them completed the study to the end. The average age was 31.80 ± 3.27 years, body mass index (BMI) [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters] was 24.67 ± 2.46, primigravida was 23.4%, multigravida was 76.6%, duration of menstrual cycle/day was 29.68 ± 3.10, and duration of menstrual period/day was 6.46 ± 1.12. The percentage of spontaneous conception was 59.57% and 40.43% for using assisted reproductive technology. The results of obstetric outcome were spontaneous abortion in 2%, premature delivery in 27.7%, and delivery at 37-41 weeks of pregnancy in 70.2%. The mode of delivery was vaginal delivery in 15% and cesarean sections in 85%. Also, 34% had threatened miscarriage, 21% had preterm labor, 2% had antepartum bleeding in the form of placenta previa, 4% had abdominal pain needing admission, one of them underwent laparotomy and was diagnosed as red degeneration, 2 (4%) had postpartum hemorrhage, and only one needed blood transfusion. Cesarean sections were done in 85%. Neonatal outcome was acceptable with no perinatal mortality. There were no significant differences between patients with single or multiple fibroids as regards the obstetric outcome or type of fibroid either intramural or subserosal. The obstetric outcomes were not significantly affected by the number, size, or type of fibroids.

Conclusions: Even most of fibroids in pregnancy are asymptomatic but may be associated with some complications affecting the course of pregnancy and labor. So, pregnancy has to be cautiously screened in the antenatal period, through regular follow-up, to detect any adverse obstetric complications and so improve the outcome.