Fibroids Raise Miscarriage Risk

A pilot study of 1600 women found that small uterine fibroids (benign muscle tumors) may increase the risk of miscarriage. The researchers diagnosed fibroids in 170 of the participants. Their results demonstrated that women with fibroids have a 55% increased chance of pregnancy loss. In addition, smaller fibroids are significantly more associated with miscarriage, compared with larger fibroids.

Although fibroids are common, little had been known about their effect on pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, and premature birth. The study results were presented recently at the annual meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. The researchers said that, over the next 5 years, they plan to enroll an additional 3300 women in their research.