Endometriosis poses a significant risk for premature birth and other serious pregnancy complications, even after adjusting for maternal age and other confounding factors, according to research published in *Human Reproduction* in 2009. Between 30% and 40% of women with endometriosis may experience difficulty conceiving, though many are able to become pregnant naturally or with reproductive assistance. Surgical removal of endometriosis tissue can improve the chances of conception, but carries risks including bleeding, infection, and organ damage, and does not guarantee pregnancy. Women with endometriosis who do conceive are also more likely to deliver by Caesarean section, and lead researcher Dr. Falconer has called for pregnant women with the condition to receive extra clinical attention.
- Between 30% and 40% of women with endometriosis may be unable to conceive.
- Surgery to remove endometriosis tissue can increase the chances of conception, but carries risks including bleeding, infections, and organ damage.
- One of the largest studies on endometriosis and pregnancy found the condition poses a significant risk for premature birth.
- Women with endometriosis were found to have a higher likelihood of giving birth by Caesarean section compared to those without the condition.
- The research led by Dr. Falconer was published in the journal *Human Reproduction* in 2009.
- Dr. Falconer noted that women with endometriosis tended to be of higher maternal age and have fewer children.
- The Endometriosis Association of Ireland provides support and information to affected women at endometriosis.ie.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis FAQs
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a long term, a common condition which affects numerous women significantly, whereas in others it may go undiagnosed. It occurs when the endometrium, which is the tissue that acts like the lining of the womb, goes to other parts of a woman’s body. It may be found in the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, around the bowel or bladder, or inside the tummy. It mainly presents in women of childbearing age and is far less common in women who have already had their menopause.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
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The symptoms of endometriosis are varied, as is the degree to which they affect different women. Some women are very badly affected, whereas lots of women may not even experience any notable symptoms.
Some of the symptoms you may experience if you have endometriosis are:
– Extremely heavy periods – where you may need to use many pads or tampons, in some cases blood may even soak through to clothes
– Very painful menstruation, medically called dysmenorrhea, which can be such extreme pain, that it doesn’t dissipate much even with the use of painkillers
– Pelvic pain, which in some cases may present around your period or in others it may be after sexual intercourse or even all the time
– Low in energy, feeling tired much of the time
– Blood may also present via the anus or in stools,
– Painful intercourse
– Cycles of intestinal complaints: diarrhoea, bloating or constipation
– Bouts of difficult or painful defecation; medically called dyschezia
– Cycles of painful urination; medically termed dysuria
– Sometimes there may be blood present in the urine; which is medically called hematuria
– Cycles of shoulder pain
Symptoms may vary during the menstrual cycle as a woman’s hormone levels fluctuate. This means that symptoms could be worse at certain times in the cycle, especially prior to and during the woman’s period
What causes endometriosis?
Currently, the causes of endometriosis are not known, although there are a number of theories, such as:
– It may be linked to genetics
– Retrograde menstruation: which is when part of the womb’s lining doesn’t exit the body but instead flows via the fallopian tubes embedding itself on the pelvic organs
– It may be linked to immune system issues
– It may affect some ethnic groups
– It could be caused by the endometrium cells spreading themselves in the lymphatic system or bloodstream
However, none of these theories on their own offers a satisfactory explanation as to the causes of endometriosis. It is more likely that it is a combination of some of these factors.
While some women may go undiagnosed, others can suffer so extremely that it can hamper them from carrying out normal activities, and even lead to feeling depressed.
How can I find out if I have endometriosis?
If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, the first step is to go to your GP. Endometriosis can be challenging to diagnose because the symptoms vary a lot and on top of this, the symptoms which may present can be similar to those of other conditions. It could help to write down your symptoms before a visit to your GP.
Your GP may refer you to a gynaecologist, who will carry out a laparoscopy, which is a low risk surgical diagnostic procedure, that can diagnose if you really do have endometriosis. During laparoscopy, a thin tube is passed via a small cut which is made in your skin so that the specialist can find any endometriosis tissues in other parts of your body.
How is endometriosis treated?
Currently, there isn’t an actual cure for endometriosis, but there are treatments which may help ease your symptoms. These include:
– Contraceptives and hormone medicines: which include gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, the contraceptive patch, an IUS: an intrauterine system or the combined pill.
– Anti-inflammatory medication to help with pain, such as ibuprofen
– In some cases, surgery may be suggested. This may entail cutting away patches of the tissue, or in some cases, organs that have been affected may need to be removed.
Endometriosis and conceiving
Endometriosis can sometimes make it difficult to conceive and in some cases, it can be a cause of infertility. In some cases, surgery may be suggested by your specialist. During the procedure, endometriosis tissue is removed, which could increase your chances of conceiving, however, it doesn’t guarantee that you will become pregnant.
Additionally, there are some risks that need to be considered, such as bleeding, infections or damage to the organs which have been affected. In terms of statistics, the figures range from 30% to 40% of women who suffer from endometriosis may not be able to conceive. However many women who suffer from the condition are able to become pregnant naturally or with some reproductive assistance.
Endometriosis in pregnancy
If you have endometriosis and become pregnant, your gynaecologist and medical team will focus on your condition. One of the largest studies to date has found that endometriosis poses a significant risk for premature birth. Researchers discovered that women with the condition also have a higher risk of other pregnancy complications and were more likely to give birth through Caesarean section.
Below are some quotes from Dr. Falconer, the lead of this study. “Because endometriosis is so strongly associated with infertility,” said Dr. Falconer, “we were not surprised to find that women suffering from it were of higher maternal age and had fewer children. However, after adjusting for maternal age and other confounding factors, the strong association between endometriosis and risky pregnancies still remained.
“Our research provides clinicians with important information in the search for the factors associated with premature birth. Given that endometriosis is relatively common in women of childbearing age, we hope that our results will lead to pregnant women with this condition receiving extra attention, thus enabling them to have normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies.” This research was originally published in Human Reproduction in 2009.
If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, the Endometriosis Association of Ireland offers support, facts, along with personal stories from other women. Their website is http://www.endometriosis.ie/ . Additionally they are on Facebook and other social media.
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What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition referenced in the context of fertility and pregnancy complications. It is relatively common among women of childbearing age and is strongly associated with infertility.
How does endometriosis affect the chances of getting pregnant?
Between 30% and 40% of women with endometriosis may not be able to conceive. However, many women with the condition are able to become pregnant naturally or with reproductive assistance.
Can surgery help women with endometriosis conceive?
In some cases, a specialist may suggest surgery to remove endometriosis tissue, which could increase the chances of conceiving, though it does not guarantee pregnancy. Risks of the procedure include bleeding, infection, and damage to affected organs.
What pregnancy complications are associated with endometriosis?
Research has found that endometriosis poses a significant risk for premature birth and is associated with a higher risk of other pregnancy complications. Women with the condition are also more likely to give birth by Caesarean section.
Which study examined the link between endometriosis and premature birth?
One of the largest studies on the topic, led by Dr. Falconer and published in Human Reproduction in 2009, found a strong association between endometriosis and risky pregnancies, including premature birth, even after adjusting for maternal age and other factors.
Should pregnant women with endometriosis receive extra medical attention?
Yes — Dr. Falconer's research recommends that pregnant women with endometriosis receive extra clinical attention to help them achieve normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies.
Where can women in Ireland find support for endometriosis?
The Endometriosis Association of Ireland offers support, facts, and personal stories from other women, and can be found at endometriosis.ie as well as on Facebook and other social media platforms.