Fibroids and Infertility

Abstract

Infertility is generally defined as the failure to conceive after ≥1 year of unprotected sexual intercourse. Because infertility tends to be multicausal, fibroids (as the sole identified factor for infertility) were only identified in about 2.4% of patients. Uterine fibroids, also known as myomas, are benign growths of the uterus’ smooth muscle tissue. They are the most common tumours to be found in the lower abdomen in pre-menopausal women. Fibroids can be found in 30–40% of all women between the age of 30 and 40 but can occur at any age. Furthermore, they are more prevalent in African women than in women of other ethnicities. The relationship between fibroids and infertility is especially difficult because of the heterogeneity of the fibroids regarding their size, location, and number, as well as the heterogeneity in observed patient populations. Even though a number of studies have attempted to clarify the influence of fibroids on fertility, there have been various, sometimes contradictory, findings and a lack of well-designed trials.