There is a lot of misconception regarding endometriosis and its effect on fertility. While it is true that endometriosis can sometimes make it difficult to conceive, in most cases, women with endometriosis are still able to conceive without any medical interventions.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition and among the common causes of infertility in women. In endometriosis, a tissue is found outside the uterus similar in make-up to the womb's inner lining (endometrium). It may grow outside your uterus, ovaries, and tubes, and even on your bladder or intestines.
How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility?
Fertility issues due to endometriosis can be related to several causes. When a person has endometriosis, the tissue formed may keep the egg from traveling to the uterus. These growths can also cause swelling and bleeding, blocked fallopian tubes, form scar tissue, and affect your intestines and bladder. Sometimes, endometriosis can also grow inside your ovary and form a cyst (endometrioma).
If you have endometriosis, you may notice these common signs -
Painful menstrual cycles
Bleeding between periods
pelvic or abdominal pain
Affect ovarian reserve
pain in the lower back
Pain with sexual intercourse
difficulty in conceiving
How Safe is Pregnancy with Endometriosis?
Though endometriosis sometimes causes the inability to conceive, many women are still able to get pregnant even after the condition. Endometriosis and female infertility don't always go hand in hand and aren't as serious as you might think. It is safe to get pregnant even after the condition.
However, depending on the severity, your fertility doctor may suggest treatments, which include -
Medication
A combination of drugs & medicines to support ovulation or control the pain & other such symptoms
Surgery
Laparoscopy is the most common type of surgery to treat endometriosis. It is performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions with the aid of a camera and surgical instrument. Your chances of conceiving are improved significantly after surgical treatment.
In most severe cases, you may also recommend Hysteroscopy, where the uterus will be removed (after hysterectomy, you can't get pregnant).
Artificial Reproductive Technology
If you wish to start a family, your fertility doctor may also suggest assisted reproductive technologies like in-vitro fertilization (IVF). During the IVF procedure, your ovaries will be triggered to produce more mature eggs using fertility medicines.
On maturity, the eggs are retrieved and mixed with the partner's sperm in a laboratory. The fertilized egg, i.e., embryos, are either frozen for future attempts or otherwise placed back in the uterus to achieve pregnancy. IVF is considered to be the most effective treatment for infertility.
Apart from these, other treatments can also be suggested, such as lifestyle changes, stress management, and daily exercise. Doing this may help lower the symptoms and improve fertility.
Consult a Fertility Specialist
If you're diagnosed with endometriosis and wish to start a family, it is the right time to talk to a fertility specialist at the Top IVF Clinic in Delhi. Crysta IVF has a panel of fertility specialists around the country with decades of experience, they'll help guide you on the right way to achieve safe & healthy pregnancy.