Fibroids and Fertility

Uterine Leiomyomas and Infertility: A Comparison of National and International Guidelines

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the female genital track, causing various symptoms and problems, including a possible impact on fertility. The relationship between fibroids and infertility has long been a debate among gynecologists. Management of fibroids in women with otherwise unexplained infertility worldwide lacks standardized, evidence-based guidelines. Therefore, a review of guidelines from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, the Collège National des Gynécologues et Obstétriciens Français, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine was conducted. There is agreement among all guidelines that the effect of fibroids on fertility is related to their position in the uterus and the alteration of the endometrial cavity. However, whether surgical intervention (laparotomy, laparoscopy, or hysteroscopy) is required varies among committees. More specifically, for submucous myomas, all guidelines agree that surgical intervention is needed. On the other hand, regarding intramural myomas, there is no consensus on what the approach may be. Novel treatments such as uterine artery embolization (UAE) and magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) should only be used in clinical trial settings. Nevertheless, all guidelines agree that medical management of fibroids further delays efforts to conceive and has no role as a stand-alone treatment of fibroids; though, the use of GnRH analogues preoperatively can be useful to improve anemia and/or reduce fibroid volume. There is a need for updated international protocols to be introduced, in order to help clinicians dealing with fibroids and infertility to better suggest the optimal treatment.