Endometriosis is a prevalent gynaecological illness, and a correct diagnosis might take up to ten years for the typical patient. When tissue that looks like uterine lining (endometrium) develops outside the uterus in areas it shouldn’t, it’s called endometriosis. It can affect your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and occasionally your bowels, intestines, or pelvic tissue.
Widespread pelvic discomfort, severe menstrual cramps, and painful intercourse are all possible side effects. It can sometimes, but not always, interfere with your ability to conceive. Although endometriosis does not always cause infertility, it can affect fertility. This does not mean that you can’t become pregnant if you have endometriosis. Instead, it suggests that getting pregnant will be more difficult for you.
If you have endometriosis, the abnormal tissue that develops outside of your uterus thickens before ovulation and swells and bleeds into locations where it shouldn’t be during menstruation. This swelling tissue has the potential to restrict the fallopian tubes or develop into the ovaries, making pregnancy more difficult.
Endometriosis is a progressive disease, meaning it will get worse over time. As endometrial tissue patches proliferate in the pelvic and abdominal regions, they might obstruct the reproductive organs. Sperm have a tougher time reaching the egg as a result of this. Furthermore, these tumours have the potential to harm the adjacent reproductive organs, reducing fertility.
With endometriosis, becoming pregnant might take a long time. Fertility issues may not be connected to the severity of endometriosis, as the physical structure of the reproductive organs is not the only factor to consider.
When you have endometriosis, you have a greater chance of not being able to conceive, and you may need to use assisted reproductive technology. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) or surgery to remove or decrease endometriosis growths outside the uterus can frequently enhance your chances of becoming pregnant.
The stage of the disease, on the other hand, can make a difference. Endometriosis, which affects fertility by preventing an embryo from implanting, scarring the fallopian tubes, altering egg development, generating a hormonal imbalance, and causing chronic inflammation in the pelvic, is known to afflict nearly half of women with infertility.
Most medicinal therapies for endometriosis seek to inhibit ovulation, but you’ll stop taking them if you’re trying to conceive. The good news is that you can get pregnant even if you have endometriosis. Fertility problems caused by endometriosis can be caused by a variety of factors, especially if endometriosis affects your ovaries and/or fallopian tubes.
An egg normally travels from the ovary to the fallopian tube and then to the uterus for fertilisation before being implanted into the uterine lining. Endometriosis in the lining of your fallopian tubes may prevent the egg from reaching the uterus.
Endometriosis may potentially cause an egg or sperm to be damaged. Before you begin attempting to conceive, you may need to consult a fertility doctor. Surgery to identify places where endometrium-like tissue is present used to be the only approach to fully diagnose endometriosis.
However, be sure that these procedures don’t leave you with scars that might damage your fertility. Discuss the risks and advantages of surgery with your doctor. As a result, new guidelines no longer propose surgery as a gold standard for diagnosis.
A fertility expert can collaborate with your doctor to identify the severity of your endometriosis symptoms and the variables that are contributing to your reproductive problems. Because endometriosis might damage your ovarian reserve, it’s possible that you’ll be advised to freeze your eggs now in case you want to get pregnant later.
If you have endometriosis, the success rates of IVF are equivalent to those of those who have other causes for infertility. IVF therapies have helped many individuals with endometriosis become pregnant, so it’s no surprise that it’s commonly suggested for those with moderate to severe endometriosis or who haven’t responded to previous treatments.
When you have endometriosis and are attempting to conceive, strive to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. This can help your baby develop and flourish throughout a healthy pregnancy by reducing inflammation.
When trying to conceive, keep in mind that your age might play a role. Younger age is linked to higher fertility rates. Fertility problems and miscarriage are more common in women 35 and older than in younger women.
