[Effect of uterine fibromas on pregnancy]

The recent published journal reports concerning the influence of uterine myomas on pregnancy are reviewed. The prevalence of uterine myomas in pregnancy is 0.1-5%, and less than half of the cases can be diagnosed by clinical investigation alone. The previous belief that continuous growth of myomas occurs during pregnancy seems incorrect. Most myomas grow during the first trimester, whereafter only few continue to enlarge. The most often recognized complication during pregnancies with uterine myomas is abdominal pain. About ten percent will suffer from this. Treatment is with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are extremely effective. In resistant cases epidural blockade may be used. Placental abruption is possibly more common among women with myomas that have direct contact to the placenta, and there is a trend towards shorter pregnancies in women with myomas. Further investigation on these subjects is required. No other complications are consistently reported more frequently among women with myomas than among those without. Myomectomy during pregnancy should only be performed in extreme cases. The value of myomectomy before conception to avoid pregnancy complications is doubtful, if no other pathology is present.