Endometriosis and Infertility: What You Should Know
When it comes to your health, listening to your body and following your instincts are essential skills. Just ask the six million women in the U.S. living with endometriosis. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 1 out of 10 women will experience endometriosis. Thirty percent to fifty percent of all infertile women have it. Even though endometriosis is common, it remains one of the most confounding conditions for women and their OB-GYNs. The Endometriosis Foundation of America estimates many women wait as long as ten years for a correct diagnosis. As more and more women wait longer to start their families, that diagnosis usually comes in their thirties and forties. If you’re wondering if you or a woman you care about might have endometriosis, read on to learn about treatment options.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is uterine-like tissue that grows outside the uterus, on ovaries, fallopian tubes, or in severe cases, even the bladder, kidneys, intestines, and rectum. Endometriosis feeds on the female hormone estrogen. That’s why doctors prescribe birth control or other drugs to women who aren’t trying to get pregnant. The medications can block estrogen and alleviate pain. But for those trying to conceive, other medical therapies are usually needed. Endometriosis can start as early as a girl’s first period and last beyond menopause, especially in severe cases when there's significant scar tissue. This endometrial tissue causes irritation on surfaces it touches, which leads to pain and adhesions on organs. Women with endometriosis can experience mild to severe pelvic pain, heavy periods, breath-through bleeding mid-cycle, and they often find it difficult to get or stay pregnant.
The link between endometriosis and infertility
How does endometriosis cause infertility? Along with adhesions, many elements of endometriosis collectively impair fertility.
The inflammation from endometriosis produces ”unfriendly” molecules. These molecules can paralyze a sperm and egg and prevent the fertilization process.
Endometriosis also distorts the anatomy of a woman’s pelvis and causes scarring in the fallopian tubes.
It alters immune system functions and causes hormonal changes that can affect egg quality.
It can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.
Endometriosis symptoms
Every woman’s anatomy is different, and so is every case of endometriosis. Some women will experience all the symptoms listed below. Others experience only infertility.
Pelvic pain
Pain during sex and/or with ovulation
Fatigue
Low back pain
Painful bowel movements, constipation, or diarrhea
Infertility
Types of endometriosis
Endometriosis ranges from mild to severe, depending on where the endometrial tissue is growing and how significant a woman’s symptoms. About one in four women with mild endometriosis need no treatment, and the condition goes away on its own. Still, other women experience “silent endometriosis” — no symptoms other than unexplained infertility. Those women typically get steered into in-vitro fertilization. And without a proper diagnosis, the IVF cycles eventually fail.
Getting pregnant with endometriosis
Awareness is the first step to getting the proper treatment for endometriosis and infertility. Pay attention to your body. Track your symptoms. Note what you’re experiencing and when and how frequently you experience it. Then, share your observations with your doctor. Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose. It’s often confused with bladder, intestinal and other conditions. Be vigilant and vocal.
What can women do?
The most important thing you can do is trust your gut. If you’re suffering but have been told there’s nothing wrong, don’t settle. If your provider's only done an ultrasound to check for endometriosis, know that's not enough. The only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is by laparoscopic surgery. If this sounds like your experience, it’s time for a second opinion — especially if your OB-GYN doesn't have a lot of experience diagnosing and treating endometriosis.
And that's likely. According to EndoFound.org, only one hundred U.S. OB-GYNs specialize in advanced laparoscopic surgery. At the Kaldas Center, we're proud to be part of the 0.3% specializing in endometriosis. It's absolutely okay to switch providers to get the help you need. It can also help to share experiences with other women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis. Connect with someone you know or join a Facebook group for women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis.
Our approach to endometriosis and infertility
There's no one-size-fits-all treatment for endometriosis. The Kaldas Center personalizes your treatment based on the severity of your condition, your age, your symptoms, and if your endometriosis is affecting your fertility. And we treat the underlying condition of endometriosis, not just infertility.
Laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis
Laparoscopic, or excision, surgery is the best way to diagnose and remove endometriosis and scar tissue. Excising endometriosis restores your normal anatomy and allows reproductive organs to function more normally. If a doctor says a hysterectomy is the only way to cure your endometriosis, find a new doctor. A hysterectomy doesn't cure the condition and dramatically impacts your fertility. If you're diagnosed with endometriosis, don't lose hope. Excision surgery, especially when paired with assisted reproductive technologies, can significantly improve infertility — even for women over 35.
We Can Help
If you think you may have endometriosis, advocate for your health. Get the help you deserve now from the right provider. Call the Kaldas Center at 920-886-2299 or schedule an appointment online.
Sources:
https://kaldascenter.com/specialties/endometriosis/
https://www.endofound.org/infertility
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323508.php
https://www.speakendo.com/living-with-endometriosis/tips-and-stories
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/long-women-diagnosed-endometriosis-61953215