Around 10% of the female population has endometriosis. It is estimated that between 30 and 50% of affected women endometriosis They also suffer from infertility.
How does endometriosis affect fertility?
This disease can affect female fertility in different ways depending on factors such as severity of endometriosisThe location of the implants, the pain, the woman's age, etc., all play a role. Therefore, treatments for endometriosis patients must be completely individualized and take into account the woman's desire to become a mother.
Endometriosis alters the anatomy; primarily, it alters the normal anatomical relationship between the fallopian tubes and the uterus, and this anatomical deformation can affect ovulation and fertilization.
Endometriosis can affect fertility through various mechanisms, the most common of which involve the growth of endometrial tissue in the fallopian tubes and ovaries.
For example, at the ovarian level, endometriosis implants or endometriomas can decrease the quantity and quality of the ovarian reserve since they hinder the correct development of oocytes and can even prevent ovulation.
At the tubal level, women with endometriosis may also have adhesions in the fallopian tubes, causing them to be not fully permeable and, therefore, hindering the passage of the egg through the fallopian tube to the uterus.
¿When should women with endometriosis see a fertility expert??
For all couples, the general recommendation is to visit a fertility clinic if they have not achieved pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. For couples with underlying health conditions or those over 35, this recommendation is reduced to 6 months.
However, Our advice is that the endometriosis expert handling your case should be fully informed of your intention to become a mother, and that all treatments administered to control the disease should take into account your reproductive desires.
The general recommendation for women with endometriosis is that they do not delay motherhood or preserve their fertility to have good quality eggs available in the future.
Assisted reproduction and endometriosis
Assisted reproductive technologies have helped many women with endometriosis to achieve their dream of becoming mothers.
It is important to study each case individually, assessing the degree of the disease and the couple's fertility to decide which treatment is most appropriate.
The most commonly used techniques in women with endometriosis are In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and egg donation.
In very young patients with mild endometriosis and open fallopian tubes, a first attempt can be made using artificial insemination if the fertility study shows good reproductive capacity in both members of the couple.
IVF is the recommended technique for women with a higher degree of endometriosis, older women, or women in whom artificial insemination has not been successful.
Egg donation would be an alternative for patients with severe endometriosis, whose disease affects egg development, for women with large endometriomas on the ovary that make follicular puncture difficult, or for couples who, after several IVF attempts, have not been able to achieve pregnancy. Eggs from a young, healthy woman offer a new possibility for these women, significantly increasing the chances of treatment success.
At Inebir, we are experts in fertility and endometriosis, offering all assisted reproduction techniques. If you would like to discuss your case, you can request an appointment through our website. website or call 954 302 683.