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Does Endometriosis Affect Getting Pregnant?The pain of endometriosis goes beyond the physical pain, which is already quite intense. The pain also comes from having so much difficulty getting pregnant! Many women experience this complication firsthand when they decide to become mothers. Endometriosis is a factor that can hinder the conception of a baby, but there are solutions for this obstacle.
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Some research shows that three out of ten women have this problem and only get a diagnosis through specific tests. The clinical exam, for example, is widely used. However, in most cases, some kind of examination is needed to provide certainty and an accurate diagnosis to distinguish what is endometriosis, whether severe or at an early stage.
So, what is endometriosis? It is nothing more than the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus1. Endometrial tissue? This is the tissue that builds up inside the uterus during the menstrual period for the possible attachment of the zygote. In simple terms, it's the menstrual lining. If a zygote does not attach inside the uterus, this lining is then discarded and exits through the vagina.
What causes endometriosis is the same endometrial tissue but outside the uterus, and it can even cause adhesions of internal parts due to its constant inflammation. The cells are somehow carried to the affected areas where they grow and increase in size. When we are in the post-menstrual phase, estrogen rises, causing the uterine lining to thicken. And since endometriosis is also fueled by it, it proliferates and spreads, taking more and more endometrial tissue through the abdominal region, bladder, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and peritoneal pelvic cavity. However, doctors still do not know what actually causes endometriosis.
How is endometriosis diagnosed? The symptoms of endometriosis are diverse, such as abdominal pain, frequent cramps, and pain in the legs. Some women also experience pain during sexual intercourse and have bleeding outside the time they should. Pain is a predominant factor in all cases and is what brings most women to the doctor’s office for evaluation and discovery of endometriosis. Some women have difficulty getting pregnant, and may even become sterile depending on the level the disease reaches. 10 to 15% of female infertility cases are due to this issue2. Remember that endometriosis can be diagnosed at its initial stage. It is still a disease without a cure, but is perfectly controllable.
The tests to diagnose endometriosis are very simple, and today technology is much more in favor of a quick diagnosis. It only takes a few simple procedures such as an ultrasound, a hysterosalpingography (an X-ray with contrast), and some blood tests, such as CA 125.
The treatment method consists of specific medications to reduce estrogen and contain inflammation. In some cases, a simple but very effective laparoscopic surgery is necessary. Symptomatic medication for pain and anti-inflammatories are also forms of treatment, since those with endometriosis are very likely to feel severe pain during their period3.
Women who experience very severe pain during their period or outside it, thinking it’s just regular menstrual discomfort, should be alert. Get a test to find out if it is endometriosis, and if so, start treatment as soon as possible to control the situation.
Photo: Ed Uthman
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