Leiomyomas in pregnancy

Abstract

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors affecting female genital tract, responsible for a high morbidity across fertile age women, with a prevalence of 0,1-11% among pregnant women. Although generally asymptomatic, they can lead to a series of symptoms and complications such as pain, infertility, miscarriages, antenatal bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm labor, fetal malpresentation, placental abruptio and high cesarean section rates. The purpose of review is to update information regarding fibroids specifications and their correlation with pregnancy outcomes as well as fibroids management during pregnancy. Because of uterine fibroids heterogeneity and lack of large, randomized trials there are encountered discrepancies among studies, but it was observed that uterine fibroids increase the risks of nega-tive obstetrical outcomes, especially when it goes to large, multiple, submucous and retroplacental myomas. Conserva-tive management during pregnancy is advised, but in special situations myomectomy could be recommended and possi-ble. Trial of labor should be offered to pregnant women even if they have large uterine fibroids, or previous myomectomy excepting fibroids obstructing the birth canal or patients who underwent extensive surgery for fibroids removal.