Pregnancy after fibroid treatment

Women can conceive and carry a child after uterine artery embolisation (UAE), a treatment for uterine fibroids.Uterine artery embolisation (UAE) that cuts off blood to the benign tumours, is usually considered suitable only for women who have finished having babies. But pregnancy may be possible after the treatment.Nonetheless, women who become pregnant after UAE should be closely monitored for abnormal development of the placenta.UAE is recognised as an alternative to hysterectomy for women with symptomatic fibroids, but little is known about the effect of UAE on fertility and pregnancy.Researchers from the University of Toronto, USA reported pregnancies and deliveries among 555 women who underwent UAE as an alternative to hysterectomy as part of a clinical trial. The average age of the participants was 43 years, but 31 per cent were younger than 40.The investigators report that 21 of the women conceived after the procedure, and three of the women became pregnant twice. The findings suggest that women can definitely get pregnant after UAE. It would not be true if they were told that they couldn't. It could cause a lot of problems if they are not using any contraception.Twenty-three of the 24 pregnancies were conceived spontaneously. There were four spontaneous abortions, a rate of about 17 per cent, which is similar to that of the general population. There were a total of 18 live births. Fourteen of these were term births and four were pre-term births. There were nine vaginal births and nine caesarean deliveries. There were 3 cases of abnormal placental development. Hence women who become pregnant after UAE should be followed closely.