Guide | How Endometriosis and Fallopian Tube Problems Affect Pregnancy
Endometriosis is a common, painful condition affecting about 5.5 million women in North America and is one of the three leading causes of female infertility. During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium—the lining of the uterus—thickens in preparation for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, this lining is shed during menstruation and the process begins again. In women with endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrium grows abnormally outside the uterus, including on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, structures supporting the uterus, and pelvic lining. It may also occur on the cervix, vagina, rectum, bladder, or bowel.
Although this tissue grows and sheds like the normal endometrium, it cannot leave the body during menstruation. The resulting buildup causes inflammation and irritation. It may prevent an egg from being released from the ovary or fertilized by sperm, and can cause scarring and blocked fallopian tubes that prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.
1. Symptoms of Endometriosis
In addition to affecting fertility, endometriosis may cause:
Pelvic pain
Pain during intercourse
Painful urination
Painful bowel movements
Severe abdominal pain
Lower back pain
Heavy periods or spotting during menstruation
Fatigue
Some people with endometriosis have no noticeable symptoms.
2. How to Become Pregnant With Endometriosis
Most women with endometriosis can still become pregnant naturally. If you have difficulty conceiving, endometriosis may be a factor. To confirm it, your doctor may recommend laparoscopy. During this procedure, a surgeon inserts a small camera through a tube into the abdomen to look for abnormal endometrial-like tissue. A biopsy may also be needed to confirm the diagnosis. If endometriosis is diagnosed, several treatments are available depending on its severity.
Medication, alone or with surgery, can often reduce inflammation and pain. If surgery is chosen, the surgeon removes as much abnormal tissue as possible. Surgery can significantly improve the chance of pregnancy for some women, although pregnancy rates are generally lower in severe endometriosis.
Because some people with endometriosis have ovulation problems, another option is an ovulation-inducing medicine such as clomiphene (Clomid). Injectable hormones may also be prescribed. Once ovulation occurs, the doctor may recommend artificial insemination, in which sperm is placed directly into the uterus.
Some standard endometriosis treatments prevent pregnancy, and hormonal medicines such as danazol (Danocrine) may cause serious birth defects. Tell your doctor if you are trying to become pregnant while receiving endometriosis treatment.
3. Fallopian Tube Problems
Fallopian tube problems are another major cause of infertility. Disease or infection can block or scar the tubes.
After an egg is released from an ovary, it travels toward the uterus through a fallopian tube, a narrow passage connecting the ovary and uterus. Fertilization normally occurs when the egg meets sperm in the tube, after which the fertilized egg continues to the uterus. Fallopian tubes are delicate, and a blockage can prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.
Fallopian tubes may be damaged by endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infections, and sexually transmitted infections.
4. How to Become Pregnant With Fallopian Tube Problems
To determine whether your fallopian tubes are blocked, your doctor may recommend laparoscopy or hysterosalpingography (HSG). During HSG, contrast dye is passed through a catheter from the vagina and cervix into the uterus. X-rays then show whether there is a blockage and whether the dye flows freely into the abdominal cavity. Another type of HSG uses ultrasound instead of X-rays, along with saline and air or foam. If the tubes are affected, surgery may be recommended to repair damage or remove a blockage.
If you ovulate normally, your doctor may also consider assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which bypass the fallopian tubes entirely.
Knowledge | How Endometriosis and Fallopian Tube Problems Affect Pregnancy
Guide | How Endometriosis and Fallopian Tube Problems Affect Pregnancy
Endometriosis is a common, painful condition affecting about 5.5 million women in North America and is one of the three leading causes of female infertility. During a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrium—the lining of the uterus—thickens in preparation for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, this lining is shed during menstruation and the process begins again. In women with endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrium grows abnormally outside the uterus, including on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, structures supporting the uterus, and pelvic lining. It may also occur on the cervix, vagina, rectum, bladder, or bowel.
Although this tissue grows and sheds like the normal endometrium, it cannot leave the body during menstruation. The resulting buildup causes inflammation and irritation. It may prevent an egg from being released from the ovary or fertilized by sperm, and can cause scarring and blocked fallopian tubes that prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.
1. Symptoms of Endometriosis
In addition to affecting fertility, endometriosis may cause:
Pelvic pain
Pain during intercourse
Painful urination
Painful bowel movements
Severe abdominal pain
Lower back pain
Heavy periods or spotting during menstruation
Fatigue
Some people with endometriosis have no noticeable symptoms.
2. How to Become Pregnant With Endometriosis
Most women with endometriosis can still become pregnant naturally. If you have difficulty conceiving, endometriosis may be a factor. To confirm it, your doctor may recommend laparoscopy. During this procedure, a surgeon inserts a small camera through a tube into the abdomen to look for abnormal endometrial-like tissue. A biopsy may also be needed to confirm the diagnosis. If endometriosis is diagnosed, several treatments are available depending on its severity.
Medication, alone or with surgery, can often reduce inflammation and pain. If surgery is chosen, the surgeon removes as much abnormal tissue as possible. Surgery can significantly improve the chance of pregnancy for some women, although pregnancy rates are generally lower in severe endometriosis.
Because some people with endometriosis have ovulation problems, another option is an ovulation-inducing medicine such as clomiphene (Clomid). Injectable hormones may also be prescribed. Once ovulation occurs, the doctor may recommend artificial insemination, in which sperm is placed directly into the uterus.
Some standard endometriosis treatments prevent pregnancy, and hormonal medicines such as danazol (Danocrine) may cause serious birth defects. Tell your doctor if you are trying to become pregnant while receiving endometriosis treatment.
3. Fallopian Tube Problems
Fallopian tube problems are another major cause of infertility. Disease or infection can block or scar the tubes.
After an egg is released from an ovary, it travels toward the uterus through a fallopian tube, a narrow passage connecting the ovary and uterus. Fertilization normally occurs when the egg meets sperm in the tube, after which the fertilized egg continues to the uterus. Fallopian tubes are delicate, and a blockage can prevent the egg and sperm from meeting.
Fallopian tubes may be damaged by endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, infections, and sexually transmitted infections.
4. How to Become Pregnant With Fallopian Tube Problems
To determine whether your fallopian tubes are blocked, your doctor may recommend laparoscopy or hysterosalpingography (HSG). During HSG, contrast dye is passed through a catheter from the vagina and cervix into the uterus. X-rays then show whether there is a blockage and whether the dye flows freely into the abdominal cavity. Another type of HSG uses ultrasound instead of X-rays, along with saline and air or foam. If the tubes are affected, surgery may be recommended to repair damage or remove a blockage.
If you ovulate normally, your doctor may also consider assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), which bypass the fallopian tubes entirely.
Source:
Collected online