Fibroids are a condition that can affect a woman's ability to get pregnant and carry a baby to full term. They often affect women older than 30 and surgery or other treatments may be needed to get rid of the thyroids. Women who get pregnant despite the presence of fibroids in their uterus need to be checked regularly by their physicians. However, you can still exercise if you have fibroids and are pregnant.
Fibroids and Fertility Problems
Fibroids that change the shape of the uterus or those in the uterus reduce the chances of pregnancy by 70 percent, according UCLA obstetrics professor Dr. William Parker. Fibroids that are outside the uterus do not have an impact on a woman's ability to get pregnant. The fibroids that change the shape of the uterus or are within the uterine walls can also cause miscarriages.
Exercise and Fibroids
The incidence of fibroids is less frequent among women who are athletic or exercise regularly. The ability to get pregnant and keep the baby will increase with exercise. Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, yoga and tai chi will you sleep better during pregnancy if you have fibroids.
Pregnancy and Fibroids
Pregnancy can have an unpredictable effect on the size of the fibroids. Uterine fibroids can range in size from one-quarter of an inch to the size of a cantaloupe. According to Parker, fibroids did not change in size in about 69 percent of all women, but some growth is found in 31 percent of pregnant women with fibroids. The growth usually occurred during the third month of pregnancy and the fibroids got smaller after delivery.
Fibroid Warning
Pregnant women with fibroids should not engage in exercises that are jarring or demanding. Long-distance running, sprinting or step aerobics can cause discomfort for any pregnant woman, especially those with fibroids. Any time your feel pain or discomfort, stop what you are doing immediately. Check with your physician about the value and validity of your exercise program.
