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Myoma and pregnancy: no danger
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A long-term experiment conducted by world-class scientists showed that fibroids are not dangerous during pregnancy.
The researchers published the results of their experiment in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Leading gynecologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Tennessee) Katrin Hartmann claims that fibroids do not increase the risk of miscarriage.
"We have established that pregnant patients diagnosed with uterine fibroids are not at risk for spontaneous abortion. The degree of risk for the pregnancy and the fetus was the same as for healthy expectant mothers without the corresponding diagnosis. Taking into account a number of other risk factors, we came to this discovery," comments the gynecologist.
Myoma is a common benign tumor in the uterus. It can alter the boundaries of the organ, which has long been considered the main factor in spontaneous abortions in pregnant women.
According to statistics, such a tumor is quite widespread. For example, fibroids are diagnosed in 25% of cases in older women.
Five years ago, more than 170 million patients with myoma were recorded in world medicine. And in the United States, this tumor is considered the main reason for uterine resection operations.
"We can announce good news that several million women are waiting to hear. The results of our study put an end to previously existing assumptions: this will significantly reduce the frequency of inappropriate surgical interventions," the author of the project claims.
This is a ten-year study involving nearly six thousand women from three American states, of different age and racial groups. Eleven percent of the women had been diagnosed with fibroids, while the rest of the patients did not have such a diagnosis.
The results of the study showed that the risk of spontaneous miscarriage was present in 11% of cases – both in the first and second groups.
"We consider the main achievement to be the fact that there is no connection between the tumor and miscarriage. But, it must be admitted, at the very beginning of the experiment we pursued a completely different goal. We were sure that such a connection exists, and wanted to determine which type of fibroid is the most dangerous. In the end, our opinion changed radically," the doctor explains.
Why was myoma previously considered the main factor in miscarriage? The fact is that the experiments previously did not take into account the age and race of pregnant women. Although it has long been known that at an older age, as well as among representatives of the Negroid race, the percentage of miscarriages is higher.
Now scientists are sure: fibroids and pregnancy are compatible.
"Every year, at least one million spontaneous abortions are registered in American clinics. Miscarriages are a very common phenomenon, but we know little about the causes of this phenomenon. Of course, any doctor who encounters problems with a patient during pregnancy tries to play it safe. But from today, pregnant women diagnosed with fibroids do not need such reinsurance," the specialist concludes.
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