Endometriosis is a condition wherein tissue like the uterine lining (endometrium) grows somewhere else in the body. Pelvic pain is the most common indication of endometriosis, yet a few women with the condition may likewise encounter infertility.
Endometriosis may develop outside of your uterus, ovaries, and tubes and even on your bladder or digestion tracts. This tissue can irritate structures that it contacts, causing pain and adhesions (scar tissue) on these organs.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Symptoms can vary with some women not having any at all, and others having very severe pain. The most common symptoms are:
- Painful, heavy or irregular periods
- Pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis or lower back around ovulation time, but also throughout the cycle
- Ongoing pelvic pain lasting six months or longer
- Pain during or after sex
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Painful bowel movements and emptying of bladder
Impact of Endometriosis on Fertility
On the off chance that you have endometriosis, it might be more difficult for you to get pregnant. Up to 30% to 50 % of females with endometriosis may encounter infertility. Endometriosis can impact fertility in different ways: distorted anatomy of the pelvis, adhesions, scarred fallopian tubes, inflammation of the pelvic structures, altered immune system functioning, changes in the hormonal environment of the eggs, impaired implantation of a pregnancy, and altered egg quality.
At the point when endometrial tissue wraps over your ovaries, it can block your eggs from releasing. The tissue can obstruct sperm from making its way up your fallopian tubes. It can likewise prevent a fertilized egg from sliding down your tubes to your uterus.
Treatment of Endometriosis Related Infertility
In case of difficulty getting pregnant with endometriosis you may wish to consult a fertility specialist. Treatment options for endometriosis related infertility include:
- Freezing eggs: Endometriosis can influence your ovarian reserve, so a few specialists may suggest protecting your eggs at present on the off chance that you wish to get pregnant later. This choice can be expensive, and isn’t typically covered by insurance.
- Superovulation and intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI): This is a possibility for women who have normal fallopian tubes, mild endometriosis, and whose partner has good quality sperm.
- A specialist will prescribe fertility medicines, like, Clomiphene. These medicines help to produce a few mature eggs. A specialist may likewise prescribe a progestin injection.
- A woman will routinely go through ultrasounds to guarantee the eggs are at their most matured state. At the point when the eggs are ready, a specialist will embed a partner’s collected sperm.
- In vitro preparation (IVF): This treatment includes extracting an egg from you and sperm from your partner. The egg is then fertilized externally and embedded into the uterus.
The success rates of IVF are 50 percent for women who don’t have endometriosis. But many women with endometriosis have successfully gotten pregnant thanks to IVF treatments. IVF is often recommended for women with moderate to severe endometriosis, or for women whose bodies haven’t responded to other treatments.