Endometriosis Infertility

How does endometriosis cause infertility?

Endometriosis is a reproductive health condition that causes endometrial tissue to grow outside of your uterus. While it can develop anywhere in your body, endometriosis most often affects your reproductive organs, including your ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and the outside of your uterus. 

Endometriosis causes pain, including severe menstrual cramping, painful sex, and pelvic pain throughout your cycle. You might also have abnormal bowel movements, low back pain, and either gain weight quickly or struggle to lose it. However, it’s also possible to have endometriosis with no symptoms at all.

Endometriosis can affect your fertility in a number of ways. It can block your fallopian tubes or interfere with the release of mature eggs, or it can cause scar tissue called adhesions to form on your ovaries or fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can also distort your pelvic anatomy, cause inflammation, or interfere with your immune system function. Endometriosis may affect your hormones, which can change your egg quality and the implantation process. 

How is endometriosis infertility diagnosed?

The team at NOVA IVF provides comprehensive fertility testing to identify the issue or issues at the root of your infertility. They provide extensive blood tests, ultrasound imaging, and more invasive testing, including laparoscopy and hysterosalpingogram, which allow them to see your fallopian tubes and other reproductive organs in more detail. 

How is endometriosis infertility treated?

The doctors at NOVA IVF don’t diagnose and treat endometriosis on its own, but they do offer several approaches to treating endometriosis infertility. Depending on your individual needs, they might recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF) to completely bypass your fallopian tubes and place viable embryos directly into your uterus. 

They also offer hormonal treatments. Estrogen fuels the growth of endometriosis, and pregnancy suppresses estrogen production that leads to a reduction in endometriosis symptoms. 

The team at NOVA IVF provides a unique hormonal stimulation that keeps your estrogen at very low levels. This reduces the risk of endometriosis flares which often accompany fertility treatments. This approach doesn’t interfere with your chances of successful fertility treatment. In fact, the team finds that reducing endometriosis flares improves your overall health and often increases your chances of becoming pregnant. 

Call NOVA IVF or make an appointment online today if you have endometriosis and haven’t been able to get pregnant.