Can endometriosis lead to pregnancy?

Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on August 31, 2024
00:00
00:00

Endometriosis can lead to pregnancy, but about 50% of those affected may not conceive. This is because the disease can cause abnormal anatomical structures in the female pelvic, leading to extensive adhesions around the fallopian tubes, thus affecting the movement of the tubes. This, in turn, impairs their function in transporting the fertilized egg. Therefore, for patients wishing to conceive, it is advisable to monitor follicular development with an ultrasound and have intercourse during the ovulation period, which could increase the chances of pregnancy.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
45sec home-news-image

Endometriosis characteristics

The main characteristic of endometriosis is painful menstruation, and in severe cases, it can lead to heavy periods and prolonged menstrual cycles. If endometriosis leads to the formation of ovarian chocolate cysts, the rupture of these cysts can cause severe abdominal pain. Moreover, endometriosis can easily lead to pelvic adhesions, which are a common cause of infertility. If the condition is severe, abdominal pain may also occur after the menstrual period has ended. In the case of adenomyosis, the symptoms include an enlarged uterine body, heavy periods, and prolonged menstrual cycles. If the condition is severe, then surgical treatment may be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
51sec home-news-image

Does endometriosis need treatment?

Whether or not endometriosis requires treatment entirely depends on the patient's symptoms. If it is a mild case of endometriosis without severe symptoms, the patient can undergo regular follow-up visits. However, if the patient experiences severe abdominal pain during menstruation, it depends on whether the patient has reproductive demands. If there are reproductive demands, medication can be administered; clinically, high-dose progestogens are commonly used to prevent the ectopic endometrial tissue from continuing to grow. If the patient has no desire for childbirth and suffers from severe pain, a hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy may be performed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
46sec home-news-image

Does endometriosis hurt?

When a woman has endometriosis, she rarely experiences pain outside of her menstrual period, except in specific circumstances, such as during intercourse, where contact might be made with the ectopic endometrial lesions, causing severe pain, also known as dyspareunia. During menstruation, because the ectopic endometrial tissue is still active, it can undergo congestion, edema, rupture, and bleeding, leading to severe dysmenorrhea. Additionally, during the menstrual period, it can also cause an increase in prostaglandin secretion within the uterine cavity, enhancing the uterus's excitability, leading to dysmenorrhea.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
55sec home-news-image

Is it easy to get pregnant with endometriosis?

Endometriosis, which has a relatively high incidence among women, refers to the condition where the endometrial tissue is located outside the uterine cavity. This condition can easily lead to infertility. Although endometriosis is a benign disease, it exhibits characteristics similar to those of malignant diseases, primarily manifesting as local infiltration that causes adhesions and can disrupt the function of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. First, it can lead to the presence of chocolate cysts on the ovaries, which can affect the ovulation function of the ovaries. Second, it can sometimes cause adhesions in the fallopian tubes or pelvic adhesions, affecting the egg-pickup function of the fallopian tubes. This prevents sperm and eggs from fertilizing within the fallopian tubes. Even if fertilization occurs, the impaired function of the fallopian tubes may also lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
54sec home-news-image

What tests are done for endometriosis?

For patients with endometriosis, it is recommended that you undergo a gynecological ultrasound examination to observe the condition of the ectopic endometrial tissue in the pelvic cavity, whether it is present on the uterus or ovaries, and whether it has grown on the abdominal wall. Therefore, it is advised to have a gynecological ultrasound examination and a gynecological exam. Patients with endometriosis can also have a blood test for tumor markers. If you wish to undergo additional tests, you can also have a cervical cancer screening, which is also possible. The main recommendations are the first three: the gynecological exam, gynecological ultrasound, and tumor marker tests. These examinations are advisable. If the endometriosis is very severe and the pain is quite intense, treatment may be necessary.