Can Endometriosis Cause Infertility? What Every Woman Should Know
Endometriosis is a condition that can affect many aspects of a woman’s life. The symptoms of this condition can be painful and difficult to deal with. Many women are told that endometriosis can also make them infertile. So how does endometriosis affect fertility and the ability to conceive? In this blog, Bloom IVF experts answer the frequently asked question, “Does endometriosis cause infertility?”
What is Endometriosis?
The inner lining of the uterus is called the uterine lining or the endometrium. This lining thickens every month, and if a person isn’t pregnant, it begins to shed during menstruation. Women who have endometriosis experience tissue resembling endometrial tissue growing in places apart from the uterus.
When these women menstruate, this abnormal tissue also begins to shed and causes internal bleeding. The tissue and organs surrounding it become painful and inflamed. When endometriosis affects the ovaries, it can cause cyst-like structures called endometriomas to form. It can also cause bands of fibrous tissue called adhesions to form, which make the surrounding tissues and organs stick to each other.
How Does Endometriosis Impact Fertility?
Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. When diseased tissue grows on the reproductive organs like ovaries or fallopian tubes, it can damage their delicate structure, cause inflammation, and affect fertility by disrupting the cycles of ovulation and menstruation.
Many women with endometriosis experience difficulty conceiving. While we haven’t discovered the exact reason why, there are some theories about it. Inflammation or blockages of the pelvic organs, such as tubal blockages, can affect ovulation and the fertilization process. It is also believed that endometriosis affects egg quality and embryo implantation.
Endometriosis does not always equal infertility—studies found that 7 out of 10 people with mild to moderate endometriosis end up getting pregnant without any treatment.
Treatments For Infertility Caused By Endometriosis
Women who experience infertility due to endometriosis have several treatment options open to them. Treatment choices involve surgery, medication, or both. What works for one endometriosis patient might not work for another. Which treatment you’ll undergo depends on the stage of endometriosis, your age, and other issues that might affect your fertility.
Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is carried out through small incisions made on the torso. If abnormal tissue growths have been observed in the patient’s body, they can be surgically removed through these tiny incisions. This technique is not as invasive as open surgery and causes minimal scarring.
A laparoscopy may improve your chances of pregnancy by removing any adhesions and scar tissue that may be affecting the normal functioning of your pelvic organs. It can provide pain relief and also make daily activities and intercourse easier. At Bloom IVF, this minimally invasive treatment is performed by the top doctors for endometriosis in Mumbai.
Open Surgery
In rare, exceptional cases, and for larger endometriosis growths, it may not be possible to remove abnormal tissue from the body through the tiny openings used in laparoscopic surgery. In such cases, open surgery may be necessary.
Assisted Reproductive Technology
If laparoscopic surgery is not effective on its own, your doctor may recommend assisted reproductive technology to get pregnant with endometriosis. Based on your age and the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend either IUI or IVF. Both treatments can help women with endometriosis conceive safely and successfully.
Choose The Right Clinic
At Bloom IVF, our fertility specialists will carefully decide a treatment path for you based on your symptoms and reproductive goals. We inform our patients about the risks and advantages of each treatment type and tailor their treatment protocols according to their unique symptoms. Whether you’re looking for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or fertility treatment like in In Vitro Fertilization, Bloom IVF gives you the highest-quality treatment with great results and affordable prices. Book an appointment today!
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long should I wait after a laparoscopy before trying to conceive?
Since abnormal tissue can sometimes grow back after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, it’s ideal to try to get pregnant within a year after the procedure.
Is a hysterectomy the best treatment for endometriosis?
No, a hysterectomy is not usually recommended to endometriosis patients. Since endometriosis usually exists outside the uterus, there is a chance that abnormal tissue can keep growing even when the patient doesn’t have a uterus.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Some of the symptoms of endometriosis include pain during intercourse, painful periods, pain during bowel movements, fatigue, bloating, and infertility.
How is the severity of endometriosis measured?
The severity of endometriosis is measured in stages, with stage 1 being the most mild (minimal scar tissue) and stage 4 being the most severe (large endometriotic implants and cysts).
Does severe pelvic pain point to severe endometriosis?
No, the severity of pain is not related to the extent of your endometriosis. It is possible for patients with stage 4 endometriosis to experience minimal pain, while those with very little endometriosis tissue growth could experience serious, debilitating pain.