Can I Get Pregnant If I Have Endometriosis?

A fraction of women with endometriosis don’t experience significant problems with infertility in their lifetimes, but most women diagnosed with endometriosis constantly fight their symptoms and still have trouble conceiving. If you have endometriosis or suspect you do, it should be taken into account during family planning. 

At Physicians for Women in Madison, Wisconsin, our team of women’s health specialists, including gynecologists, board-certified obstetricians, and certified nurse midwives, can help you if you have or think you may have a gynecologic issue like endometriosis that’s preventing you from getting pregnant.  

Endometriosis and infertility 

While women with endometriosis can and do get pregnant, there’s a clear connection between endometriosis and infertility. An estimated 25-50% of infertile women struggle with endometriosis, making it a concern for potential mothers with an “endo” diagnosis. The rate of infertility increases among patients with severe endometriosis, and imaging tests make it easy to see why. 

Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of intrauterine tissue outside the uterus. This tissue bleeds along with your menstrual cycle, causing pain and the formation of scar tissue on your surrounding organs. Depending on where this tissue has formed, it can make it difficult to conceive and carry a child. 

Cystic endometrioma can interfere with the ovaries, which can prevent egg release. Other endometrial causes of infertility include:

• Scarred fallopian tubes 
• Distorted anatomy inside the abdomen and pelvic regions 
• Inflammation of the pelvis
• Impaired egg implantation in the uterus 
• Poor egg quality 

Your doctor can determine the underlying problem and treat it to help increase your fertility.

Endometriosis and family planning

Infertility is defined as a period of a year where you consistently have unprotected sex and fail to conceive. If you have a history of difficult periods and unexplained pelvic pain, a specialist can help diagnose exactly what’s getting in the way of getting pregnant and assist you with family planning.

Heavy periods and severe cramping are often dismissed as “normal,” which means in many cases that endometriosis isn’t taken seriously until it’s severe enough to cause infertility. Unfortunately, postponing diagnosis and treatment not only leaves you with ongoing symptoms, but it can severely impact your fertility over time.

Many women can’t get a formal diagnosis because they lack the resources, or have had their symptoms misdiagnosed as simple dysmenorrhea. Of course, whether you’ve already been diagnosed with endometriosis or not, it can affect your ability to have children. Don’t despair; you’ve still got a good chance of conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term with the right help.

At Physicians for Women, our gynecological team has experience dealing with reproductive conditions like endometriosis and infertility and understands how they influence one another. If you want to get pregnant now or in the future, we can help you find ways to make that possible. 

To learn more and figure out how to get pregnant even with endometriosis, call Physicians for Women at 608-227-7007, or book an appointment online.