Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAbility to ConceiveRisks to PregnancyHow Long to TryFertility TreatmentsRole of SurgeryResources and Support
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ability to Conceive
Risks to Pregnancy
How Long to Try
Fertility Treatments
Role of Surgery
Resources and Support
You can get pregnant withendometriosis, even if it’s advanced, though it may not be easy. Research shows one-third to one-half of women with endometriosis have trouble conceiving naturally.
In endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrial lining of theuterus(womb) grows around your reproductive organs. It can also cause scar tissue and adhesions, which is when tissue sticks together. This can make it harder to get pregnant, but not impossible.
If you have endometriosis and want to get pregnant, medical treatments can help you conceive. However, endometriosis is associated with higher risks of pre-term birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and other concerns during pregnancy.
Verywell / Colleen Tighe
This article discusses endometriosis and pregnancy. It explains how endometriosis can impact fertility and the treatments that may help you get pregnant. It also discusses the risks of pregnancy complications in people with endometriosis.
How Endometriosis Affects Your Ability to Get Pregnant
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of females of child-bearing age.A 2022 study reported that 35% to 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile, meaning they are unable to conceive naturally after a year of trying.
Endometriosis can cause difficulty conceiving for multiple reasons, including:
Stages of Endometriosis and FertilityThe stages of endometriosis are 1 through 4, which represent minimal, mild, moderate, and severe disease. These stages are classified based on location, quantity, and depth of the endometrial tissue. Infertility may become more likely as stages increase and is highly likely with stage 4.
Stages of Endometriosis and Fertility
The stages of endometriosis are 1 through 4, which represent minimal, mild, moderate, and severe disease. These stages are classified based on location, quantity, and depth of the endometrial tissue. Infertility may become more likely as stages increase and is highly likely with stage 4.
How Endometriosis Causes Infertility
How Endometriosis Affects Pregnancy
Most pregnancies with endometriosis are successful and uncomplicated. However, endometriosis does carry some pregnancy risks. These include:
Does Pregnancy Cure Endometriosis?A 2018 review of published literature found insufficient evidence to support the theory that pregnancy can improveendometriosis symptoms, reduce the size or number of related lesions, or cure the condition outright.
Does Pregnancy Cure Endometriosis?
A 2018 review of published literature found insufficient evidence to support the theory that pregnancy can improveendometriosis symptoms, reduce the size or number of related lesions, or cure the condition outright.
Trying to Conceive With Endometriosis
If you’ve beendiagnosed with endometriosis, it’s worth trying to conceive on your own before seeking treatment.
Most experts advise that you try to conceive naturally for six months (rather than the 12 months recommended for other women). If you don’t get pregnant within that time frame, then you should speak with a fertility specialist.
With that said, some people go straight to a specialist, especially if they are older. After 35, natural fertility declines in every woman.For some, those six months may be better spent under a specialist’s care.
Improving Your Chances
When trying to get pregnant, it’s important to consider overall health and lifestyle factors that can be helpful for anyone trying to conceive.
Lifestyle factors that may support fertility include:
Can an Endometriosis Diet Help You Conceive?
Fertility Treatment Options
Fertility drugs alone are not typically used in women with endometriosis who want to get pregnant. They don’t improve pregnancy rates much compared to those who try to conceive naturally.
The most effective treatment forendometriosis-related infertilitydepends on your age, the stage of the disease, your infertility risk factors, treatment costs, and personal choice.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are options you can consider, even with endometriosis.
How Does Artificial Insemination Work?
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)along with fertility drugs is the typical starting point for women with stage 1 or 2 endometriosis. IUI is a procedure where sperm is introduced into the womb duringovulation.
Clomid (clomiphene)andgonadotropinare the fertility drugs commonly used for IUI. Traditionally, clomid was usually used first, as it is less likely to cause multiple births or a potentially serious condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) that causes ovaries to swell.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
If IUI does not work, the next step isin vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves removing eggs and fertilizing them outside of the body, then transferring them into the womb. It provides the best chance of getting pregnant, but is also costly and invasive.
IVF is sometimes used as the first-line treatment option if a woman is over 38, has stage 3 or 4 disease, or has additional risk factors for infertility (such as low egg quality or quantity).
Studies have shown that the success rate of IVF in women with endometriosis is around 22%, more or less in line with women with other causes of infertility.
IVF is not an option for all individuals. Some prefer less invasive treatments, while others simply cannot afford the cost of IVF. For them, multiple rounds of IUI, surrogacy, or adoption may be suggested.
How In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Works
Surgery and Fertility Rates
The number one reason forendometriosis surgeryis toreduce pain symptoms. Beyond pain reduction, surgery may help increase the odds of pregnancy in some—but not all—women.
Endometriosis also can return after surgery. It has a recurrence rate of about 20% to 50% within five years after surgery.
For those with severe endometriosis, surgery does not appear to improve success rates for IUI or IVF. In fact, repeated surgeries can cause adhesions that make pregnancy more difficult.
On the other hand, some studies suggest that women with stage 2 or 3 endometriosis may have a slightly better chance of getting pregnant after excess tissue is removed.
However, if there is no pain, therisks of surgeryusually outweigh any benefit in terms of improved fertility. You need to discuss the pros and cons with a surgeon to make a fully informed choice.
Endometriosis Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has a list ofendometriosis resourcesfrom groups that study or provide information related to endometriosis. You can find a variety of patient resources and news on the latest research.
It can also be helpful to join an online or in-person endometriosis or infertility support group to connect with other people going through similar experiences.
Endometriosis Self-Care to Manage Symptoms
Summary
Pregnancy is possible with endometriosis, though it may be more difficult to conceive naturally. This can be due to issues such as poor egg quality, adhesions, or ovarian cysts that block fertilization or implantation.
Your healthcare provider may advise you to try getting pregnant naturally for six months. If that does not work, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended. Surgery may improve the odds of pregnancy, but the benefit is likely small compared to the risks.
20 Sources
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