| What is endometriosis and how does it affect | | | | cause other harm to the female. The most common |
| pregnancy? Endometriosis is a condition where the | | | | place for this tissue to abnormally grow is on the |
| normal tissue that lines the inside of the uterus | | | | ovary. It could cause the ovary to rupture, and cause |
| becomes dispersed elsewhere in the lower abdomen | | | | torsion of the ovarian vessels. This means the vessels |
| or pelvic area. As noted, this tissue itself is benign, but | | | | will twist on itself cutting off blood supply to the ovary. |
| its presence can cause other problems. Endometriosis | | | | The goals of treating this benign growth is to relieve |
| and pregnancy are interrelated as it can cause | | | | chronic pain in patients and to help improve fertility. |
| infertility, as it did us. But we overcame it and you can | | | | More long-term goals consist of reducing the |
| too. This article will discuss many aspects of | | | | recurrence of this disease. There are different courses |
| endometriosis and its affect on pregnancy. | | | | of treatment including medication and surgical. |
| Though someone can have endometriosis and have | | | | The use of medications cannot be used to treat the |
| tissue removed, it will many times come back or recur. | | | | problem of fertility in some patients because the |
| Many women will complain of chronic pelvic pain as a | | | | medications are used to suppress estrogen. This is a |
| symptom, and some believe 40% of women affected | | | | very important hormone throughout the course of a |
| are infertile. Most women who do have endometriosis | | | | healthy pregnancy. The key for many women in this |
| are somewhere in their mid-30's and have not | | | | predicament is to have surgical removal of the tissue. |
| previously had children. Many women are actually | | | | This can be discussed with an experienced |
| diagnosed in their late 20's. The reason that it is found | | | | gynecologist on the methods of removal of the tissue. |
| in women in their reproductive years is because this | | | | After removing our endometriosis, the next option for |
| tissue is particularly respondent to estrogen. | | | | increased success of a pregnancy was in vitro |
| One of the other common signs that a woman has | | | | fertilization. Removing endometriosis certainly helped in |
| endometriosis is infertility. As in our case, we were | | | | our case. |
| infertile for 7 years and endometriosis was one of the | | | | The condition of endometriosis is said to be benign as |
| causes. Women who do become pregnant may note | | | | the tissue itself is not malignant. However, the are |
| miscarriages in the third trimester of their pregnancy as | | | | potential complications to this disease which may |
| well if their endometriosis is untreated. | | | | cause infertility and life-threatening problems like |
| Patients who do have difficulty becoming pregnant | | | | ovarian rupture. The symptoms of patients usually |
| because of this disease can see a fertility doctor. | | | | entail chronic pain and difficulty becoming pregnant or |
| They have devised ways to monitor the patient | | | | completing a pregnancy. This is not an uncommon |
| through the pregnancy as to the growth of any | | | | condition, and it is found in women who are of |
| endometrial tissue. | | | | child-bearing age. It is best to see a gynecologist to |
| Besides the effects on pregnancy, this tissue can | | | | deal with the issue possibly a fertility doctor as well. |