Endometriosis and Infertility: All Your Questions Answered

According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis is a severe and chronic condition that affects 10% of women who are of reproductive age. It’s a relatively common condition that affects various aspects of a woman's life and can be extremely painful.

One of the most challenging aspects of endometriosis to deal with is infertility. Moderate to severe cases of the condition make it difficult to get pregnant on your own. Fertility treatments may help, but it can be a long, emotionally draining road.

If you’re struggling with infertility and endometriosis, Dr. Darin L. Weyhrich and our team can help. At our office in Boise, Idaho, Dr. Wehyrich offers various treatments for endometriosis and fertility consultations to help you finally achieve your dream of parenthood.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a common chronic condition caused by tissue, such as the uterine lining, growing outside the uterus. The foreign tissue grows in the abdomen, chest, and pelvic region.

Many women with endometriosis live with uncomfortable symptoms that typically worsen with hormonal fluctuations. The endometrial-like tissue responds to hormonal changes just like the uterine lining, causing symptoms such as:

• Excruciating menstrual cramping
• Painful intercourse
• Back or abdominal pain
• Pain that worsens during your period
• Very heavy bleeding during menstruation
• Spotting between periods
• Pain with bowel movements

Endometriosis also leads to problems with fertility, although you may not know that’s the cause at first. Some women don’t have any symptoms, while others have a hard time functioning with the condition.

The link between endometriosis and infertility

Endometriosis is one of the many causes of infertility for many reasons. When the endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus, it can block the sperm from getting to the egg or the egg from getting to the uterus.

The endometrial tissue also damages organs like the fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing problems with ovulation. Over time, the tissue can lead to fallopian tube scarring, which may prevent the egg from getting through the tubes to meet the sperm for conception.

Over time, endometriosis often worsens, causing more pain and fertility problems. Other ways endometriosis affects fertility include:

• Preventing an embryo from implanting in the uterus
• Eggs’ growth and development
• Inflammation in the pelvic cavity
• Hormonal imbalances

Not every woman living with endometriosis will have trouble getting pregnant. Still, it may take some women longer than others to conceive a child. It is possible, though, to achieve a healthy pregnancy even with severe endometriosis.

Can I still get pregnant with endometriosis?

Many women with endometriosis go on to have safe and healthy pregnancies, with or without the help of fertility treatments. Endometriosis doesn’t always affect fertility, but you’re more likely to have trouble when you have the condition.

Doctors often use the endometriosis fertility index to determine the likelihood of conceiving without medical intervention. It’s a 10-point scoring system based on various factors like:

• Ovarian function
• Fallopian tube health
• Age
• Stage of endometriosis
• Prior pregnancies
• Medical history

They also consider how long you've been trying to get pregnant with the other factors added in. The end score helps you determine what road to take to achieve pregnancy.

Will I need fertility treatments to conceive?

Some women with infertility need fertility treatments to help them get pregnant. Dr. Weyhrich may recommend a laparoscopy to determine the extent of endometriosis before suggesting fertility treatments.

If you have mild endometriosis and haven’t started trying yet, Dr. Weyhrich may recommend trying on your own for up to a year or six months, based on your age. However, if you’ve already been trying, he may recommend starting with fertility medications for mild-to-moderate endometriosis.

More severe forms of endometriosis may benefit from intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is the most invasive form of fertility treatment but often yields good results, also based on age and egg health.

Are there any complications during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, endometriosis doesn’t just affect your ability to get pregnant; it may also lead to complications during pregnancy. 

Several complications can occur when you’re pregnant with endometriosis, including babies that are small for their gestational age and the need for a C-section. Other complications may include hemorrhaging during delivery, miscarriage, and preterm delivery.

However, not every woman will have issues during gestation. With today’s technology and more frequent care, you can have a healthy baby with endometriosis.

Call our office today in Boise, Idaho, to schedule an appointment with Dr. Weyhrich for endometriosis or infertility. You may also request a consultation using our convenient online booking tool.