Endometriosis is when the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, not only grows inside the uterus (as it should) but starts to grow on the outside as well. Due to the fact that the growth accumulates on the outside of the uterus (and often other surrounding organs such as the ovaries), it cannot be shed during a woman’s menstrual cycle, and therefore it can become inflamed and irritated. The resulting scar tissue is what causes a woman with endometriosis to have difficulty becoming pregnant. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
Symptoms of Endometriosis include pain where the growth is occurring. This is usually, but not limited to, pain in the lower abdomen, rectum, vagina, and lower back. Another symptom of Endometriosis is painful or heavy periods or spotting in between periods. And, of course, difficulty getting pregnant may be a red flag of endometriosis, but infertility obviously has many culprits, so all possibilities should be considered before a diagnosis can be labeled. The only way a diagnosis of endometriosis can be determined is by a surgery called a laparoscopy. If implants, cysts, or scar tissue are found during surgery they can be removed.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for endometriosis. However, there are several treatment options but the treatments are mainly for pain control and are no use if pregnancy is desired. The only treatment for endometriosis, that is pregnancy-friendly, is removal of the scar tissue and growth via surgery.
Out of all women, 6-10 women out of 100 have endometriosis. However, not all women with endometriosis are infertile; it depends on the severity of course. Treatment for infertility resulting from endometriosis is removal of the scar tissue. According to the Endometriosis Institute, chance of pregnancy in Stage I or II endometriosis is roughly 2% per cycle.
After treatment (treatment being surgery), this percentage rises to 4-5% per cycle. To put it in perspective, the average healthy couple has roughly a 15-25% of conceiving per cycle. If a woman with Stage I or II endometriosis underwent an IUI with fertility drugs, the chance of conception is still not on par with an average healthy couple. For several hundred dollars, she may buy herself a mere 11% chance of conception. IVF is the best route buying couples in excess of 35% chance of conception. Unfortunately, even once pregnancy has occurred, women with endometriosis have a higher risk of miscarriage.
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