Condition guide
Endometriosis and infertility
Tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, often painful and frequently diagnosed late.
Written and reviewed by the MyBabyBridge editorial team · Last reviewed · 3 sources · General information, not medical advice. Our editorial standards
What it is
In endometriosis, tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation, pain, and sometimes scarring and adhesions that distort the pelvic anatomy. It affects fertility through several routes: blocked or damaged tubes, disturbed ovarian function, ovarian endometriomas, and an inflammatory pelvic environment. Diagnosis is often delayed for years because severe period pain is so often normalized.
Unfamiliar term? See the fertility glossary.
Signs people notice
Having one of these does not mean you have this condition, and having none does not rule it out.
- Painful periods severe enough to disrupt normal activity
- Pain during or after sex
- Pelvic pain between periods
- Painful bowel movements or urination, often cyclical
- Heavy bleeding
- Difficulty conceiving, sometimes with no pain at all
How it is diagnosed
History and examination, pelvic ultrasound or MRI which may show endometriomas or deep disease but can be normal in milder cases, and laparoscopy where surgical diagnosis and treatment are appropriate.
Treatment paths that usually follow
- Pain management, which is a legitimate goal in its own right
- Surgical treatment of disease or adhesions in selected cases
- IUI with ovulation induction in milder disease
- IVF, which bypasses distorted anatomy and is often recommended where disease is advanced or tubes are affected
- Careful weighing of ovarian surgery against its effect on ovarian reserve
Each of these is explained in the treatment library. Which one is right depends on your age, your history, and your own priorities.
What to ask your clinician
- What stage of disease do you believe I have, and on what evidence?
- Will surgery improve my chance of conceiving, or reduce my ovarian reserve?
- Should I go straight to IVF given my stage and age?
- How will we manage my pain during treatment?
- Who on the team manages endometriosis specifically?
Sources
- Women's Health Frequently Asked Questions — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Infertility and Fertility — Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Infertility — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
A diagnosis is a starting point, not a plan.
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