SuziQ - there are no silly questions where ttc is concerned! From what I've learnt so far - fibroids usually grown on or in the uterus. It depends where they are as to the symptoms you can get - they can be very minor (or nothing at all) but a lot of women get very bad cramps and bleeding and can end up having to have a hysterectomy to get any kind of relief. They can disappear once menopause hits (little too late by then of course!). Usually they are just growths of excess tissue and it is unusual for them to be cancerous - they're usually just a big nuisance (and very painful).
I had eight small ones and one large one (over 15cm) removed. Apparently the large one was pushing my other organs out of the way and that was why I had lower back pain and terrible indigestion (my only symptoms). I think the reason it took so long for them to be diagnosed was because my periods were basically ok. One GP just told me to eat more fibre!
Eventually a gynea found them and suggested surgery - she left two behind because she said they were too close to the blood supply to risk removing them. Even then she had to warn me that if anything went wrong during the surgery that 'everything' would have to come out. I think my first words in recovery were 'do I still have a uterus?'!!!! And of course they can always grow back which is quite common unfortunately.
The problem I have now with ttc is that the embryo has to compete with any existing fibroids for blood supply and even the embryo finding a good 'spot' to latch onto can be difficult because the existing fibroids, and scar tissue following the surgery, could be in the way.
I'm sure there are experts who would probably explain all that much better than I have but that's basically what's going on with my fibroids! It's certainly been a rollercoaster of emotions over the last 2 years but I haven't given up hope yet that a bub might still be in my future (with or without Mr Right!) - I hope!
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