Can I Still Get Pregnant if I Have Endometriosis?

Can you get pregnant even if you have endometriosis? Yes, but it depends on several factors.

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have kids; but it might mean you have to try a little harder.

Our experts at The Women’s Specialists of Fayette are committed to helping women achieve optimal health and wellness, which includes helping them overcome the aspects of endometriosis that might complicate or prevent fertility.

Understanding the relationship between endometriosis and fertility

The first thing you should know is that there’s not a definite link between endometriosis and infertility. Some women who have endometriosis have no problem getting pregnant, while others do. Nationally, 30%-50% of women with endometriosis will face some infertility issues, but that means 50%-70% will have no problem at all. So be encouraged.

To understand why endometriosis might interfere with your pregnancy plans, you need to understand what’s going on in your uterus. Immediately following conception, a fertilized egg implants itself in the lining of your uterus. But if you have endometriosis, the tissue that lines your uterus has grown outside of its assigned organ and can cause some problems.

That roaming endometrial tissue still acts like it did when confined to your uterus — gradually getting thicker and trying to slough off like it does during your menstrual cycle — but it has nowhere to go. This can eventually result in a buildup of scar tissue and may cause complications with reproduction if not treated.

An important takeaway here is that if you don’t want to get pregnant, do not assume your endometriosis has made you infertile. Plenty of women with this condition have no problems getting pregnant. So practice safe birth control to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

If you do want to become pregnant, here are the some of most common endometrial complications that could interfere with your efforts, and how our doctors at Women’s Specialists of Fayette can help.

Painful sex

One of the main symptoms of endometriosis is that intercourse is painful. If your pain is so intense that it stops you from having sex, talk to us to find out the best way to proceed.

In many cases, we can perform a surgical procedure called laparoscopy to remove any endometrial lesions that may causing your pain, and therefore free you to pursue natural conception. The incisions are tiny, so it shouldn’t take too long to recover, and you can be back to being pain free.

Blocked reproductive organs

If your endometriosis has advanced, and you have lesions or scar tissue blocking your fallopian tubes, then the sperm will never get to meet your egg.

Depending on the age and stage of your endometriosis, we can determine whether surgery will help clear the problem so that you can continue with your pregnancy plans.

Implantation problems

Since endometriosis is a condition where your tissues are behaving abnormally, it stands to reason that the quality of those tissues might be compromised. Women with endometriosis have lower embryo implantation rates than those without it, but studies aren’t conclusive. Some research points to low egg quality.

In either case, talk with your doctors about your fertility options. They may decide that hormone therapy — which has been shown to stop the errant growth of endometrial tissue — will correct the problem, or you may need surgery, or both.

If you have endometriosis, you may have heavy menstrual bleeding, painful sex, chronic fatigue, and yes, possible infertility. But you should also have hope. At The Women’s Specialists of Fayette, we’ve cultivated an environment of compassionate care staffed with expert physicians, each equipped to use the most advanced technologies and the latest research to help you thrive.

If you have endometriosis and are hoping to get pregnant, call to make an appointment with one of our doctors today. The sooner you start working with one of our specialists, the sooner you will understand if and how you can get pregnant despite your endometriosis.