March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis is a condition, with no cure but many treatments, that causes the same kinds of cells (tissue) that line the uterus to also grow outside of the uterus on nearby organs, usually within the pelvis. Because these cells grow and shrink corresponding to the menstrual cycle, it often causes significant pain. Endometriosis can also cause little or no pain, which means it can go undiagnosed until there is a problem, like trying to get pregnant.
People who have endometriosis can absolutely become pregnant, and can have a healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby. People who have endometriosis can also experience difficulty getting pregnant as well as complications with pregnancy and birth. If you have endometriosis, it's impossible to know what you will or will not experience when you try to conceive and during pregnancy. The more informed you are about endometriosis, the more prepared and supported you can be as you go through this stage in your life.
Endometriosis and Fertility
About one-third of people with endometriosis will experience difficulty becoming pregnant. This could be due to the inflammation that endometriosis causes in and around the uterus, or because of endometrium-like tissue that grows outside the uterus, blocking the fallopian tubes or the ovaries. Some people with endometriosis get pregnant without issues.
For those experiencing fertility issues and who have endometriosis, it's important to work with a doctor who specializes in endometriosis, as well as a fertility specialist. (Check out these tips for finding an endometriosis specialist.) Fertility issues could be caused by the endometriosis (it is one of the top causes of infertility), but it could also be caused by another related or unrelated issue. An endometriosis specialist will be able to help treat your endometriosis first to see if that allows you to get pregnant. A fertility specialist can rule out other causes of infertility. Treatment for endometriosis often can be the solution to getting pregnant after experiencing infertility.
Pregnancy and Endometriosis
There are additional risk factors when you have endometriosis and become pregnant. It's important to know the risks so you know what to look for in the event you experience a complication, and so you can get the medical, physical, emotional, and mental health support you need. In pregnancy, endometriosis increases the possibility of:
- Miscarriage (about 13% higher than normal risk of miscarriage)
- High blood pressure ("hypertension")
- Preeclampsia (a condition marked by
- Preterm (early) birth (about 1.5 times more likely to give birth before 37 weeks)
- Low birth weight or size for baby
- Placenta previa (placenta grows over the opening of the cervix)
It's also possible you may not experience any complications during your pregnancy with endometriosis. It's impossible to predict, so it's important to work closely with your prenatal care providers as well as your endometriosis specialist during pregnancy.
The good news is that some people with endometriosis can experience reduced pain during their pregnancy due to the pause in menstruation and because pregnancy increases progesterone, which is believed to stop, reduce, or even shrink the growth of endometrial cells. Some may begin to experience pain toward the end of pregnancy. Unfortunately for most, endometriosis pain will return after pregnancy, but breastfeeding may slow its return.
Learning the facts about endometriosis and pregnancy and working with an endometriosis specialist will give you the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy. Endometriosis is a chronic condition that can cause significant difficulties. Getting professional support will help you manage the condition and improve your quality of life during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, parenting, and beyond.
Resources
Endometriosis Foundation of America
Endometriosis.org
Office on Women's Health
Tags
Birth Pregnancy Endometriosis Fertility infertility Pregnancy Complications Endometriosis Awareness Month Getting Pregnant