There is hope: it is still possible for women with endometriosis to get pregnant
Endometriosis is a painful, often debilitating condition that affects women’s ability to menstruate ‘normally’. This leads to many problems, not least of which is potential infertility. But it is still possible for women with endometriosis to get pregnant and have that much longed-for baby. In this article, we will shed some light on the condition and the options for getting pregnant, as well as current research which may help thousands of women.
What is endometriosis?
As already mentioned, endometriosis is an extremely painful condition that affects women of all ages during their reproductive years. It is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK and affects around 1.5 million women.
Endometriosis can be a difficult condition for women to live with, both physically and emotionally.
Instead of the usual process of the uterus lining (endometrium) being shed and causing bleeding during a woman’s period, endometriosis causes the endometrium to grow in areas that are not normal. This can include the ovaries, intestine or pelvic tissue. Not only is this incredibly painful, but it can also cause extensive problems as the uterus lining tissue has nowhere to go once it breaks down, unlike a normal period. Instead, endometriosis can cause cysts, scar tissue and adhesions from build ups.
People with endometriosis are often infertile. Or they are advised to use hormonal treatments such as the birth control pill to help control the condition which, unfortunately, adds to the likelihood of infertility. By preventing ovulation, you stop the need for uterus lining tissue production and as such control the endometriosis. This of course causes many with the condition to scratch their head around the options of taking treatments to control the condition v the impact on pregnancy and conception.
The really big question, of course, is can you still get pregnant despite suffering from endometriosis? As you will see below, the answer is a resounding yes!
Symptoms of endometriosis
Symptoms of the condition vary and Endometriosis UK suggests that it takes an average of 7.5 years from the onset of symptoms for a woman to get a diagnosis. In the interim, women are often treated for other conditions including but not limited to IBS and coeliac disease, or even appendicitis!
The main symptoms of the condition are cramping and pelvic aches and, for some women, extremely heavy bleeding. But importantly it can also cause infertility and a long psychological battle. It is estimated that around a third of women with endometriosis struggle to get pregnant.
The effect on pregnancy
But just how does endometriosis affect pregnancy and is pregnancy even possible for women with endometriosis?
The condition can cause some blockages in the fallopian tube, halting the movement of eggs in the women which causes issues with pregnancy. It is also thought that endometriosis causes damage to both a man’s sperm and the women’s eggs through general inflammation in the body. It is still unproven as to what this actually does but it is suspected that the inflammation messes with the conception process and causes difficulties there. But all is not lost, you will be able to become pregnant, but you may need some help!
Pregnancy options
If you suffer from endometriosis and are struggling to get pregnant, start by making an appointment with your GP who will probably refer you to an infertility specialist.
A fertility specialist is an expert in the field and will know how best to deal with your personal situation. Treatment will normally start with blood tests, specifically an anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test to determine a woman’s ovary reserves.
The results of these tests enable the specialist to decide on the most appropriate treatment options. This may include surgery to remove the stray endometrium but, unfortunately, this does affect fertility and dents your ovarian reserve.
But there are a number of alternative options that you can opt for which increase your chance of getting pregnant when you have endometriosis. This can range from fertility medication to freezing your eggs for a later date, superovulation, and intrauterine insemination to IVF treatment from Fertility Plus.
It may also be worth considering specialised maternity reflexology which can help with your chances of getting pregnant as well as providing support during the pregnancy and the birth.
Whatever you opt to choose there is generally an option for getting pregnant for most people who suffer from endometriosis.
Future treatments providing hope…
Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis and there are limited treatment options which include repeated surgeries – including full hysterectomies, hormonal drugs, or pain killers. All these options have potentially long-term negative health impacts: even pain killers can be addictive, causing multiple physical and psychological issues.
But there are currently two major studies being carried out to help support women with endometriosis, both with the potential of offering women non-hormonal drugs that will treat the condition without the unwanted side effects of existing treatments.
The University of Edinburgh study
The study is investigating a non-hormonal drug called dichloroacetate which is currently used to treat rare metabolic conditions in children. It helps to control lactate levels, which have been found to be higher in patients with some cancers and endometriosis.
In this recent BBC news item, 24-year-old Jessica, one of 30 women taking part in the study, explains how, during the 12-week trial period, her symptoms dramatically improved enabling her to do things such as taking the dog for a walk which was just too painful for her to consider before. She says:
“It’s definitely changed my life so far, having been on this treatment after so many failed treatments and medications and operations.”
The University of Oxford study
Although the aim of this study is also to find non-hormonal drugs to support women with Endometriosis, the approach is different.
In this 3-year study, Professor Krina Zondervan and her team conclude that endometriosis is not one single condition and have uncovered genetic links to other inflammatory conditions such as asthma and osteoarthritis, and pain conditions such as migraines and back pain.
The team believes that by understanding those links, non-hormonal drugs already used to treat those linked conditions can be utilised to treat endometriosis sufferers more effectively and appropriately.
Conclusion
Whilst suffering from this condition can be grim and the outlook can cause even more despair when it comes to pregnancy, those with endometriosis should not give up hope. As we can see, research is promising and, hopefully, it should not be long before more appropriate drugs are available for women with this terrible condition.
And for women with endometriosis who want to get pregnant, there are already alternative options which do work, and whilst they have a statistically less chance of success than a normal conception and have an increased likelihood of causing other complications, there are many women who manage to have successful pregnancies.
The key to getting pregnant with endometriosis is early discussions of options and a clear game plan to aid conception. The condition certainly makes it harder, but it is by no means impossible for many with endometriosis to get pregnant. So, get planning!
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