If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis you may be worried about infertility. Depending on the level of severity of the endometriosis, many women with mild to moderate endometriois will be able to get pregnant and the changes are increased with proper treatment. This page provides information on how to get pregnant with endometriosis.

• Consult your doctor to determine the degree of severity of your endometriosis

• In some cases, pregnancy can relieve the symptoms of endometriosis for a limited time

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial lining of the uterus grows in areas throughout the pelvic cavity. The tissue forms growths that become irritated during menstruation and ovulation. When the endometrial lining breaks away it creates scar tissue, bleeds and can cause cramps and discomfort. This can sometimes make conception difficult as scar tissue can block the fallopian tubes. With treatment, getting pregnant with endometriosis is possible.http://www.americanpregnancy.org/womenshealth/endometriosis.html

The first step in trying to successfully become pregnant if you have endometriosis is to consult with your physician. If you have mild to moderate endometriosis, there are treatments that can help raise your changes of successfully conceiving. Your doctor will perform an physical examination and may use the following techniques to determine how severe your case of endometriosis is:

1. Ultrasound
   • An ultrasound examination will help your doctor determine if there are any cysts or adhesions around your ovaries. An ultrasound is not an invasive procedure. It involves a hand-held device, called a transducer, that is placed on the abdomen. The ultrasound transmits sound-waves that produce a video on a screen. Sometimes OBGYNs use a trans-vaginal ultrasound, which is said to produce a better quality image.http://www.emaxhealth.com/40/1105.html
2. Laparoscopy
   • Your doctor may perform a laparoscopy by making a tiny incision near your belly button.http://www.babycenter.com/0_endometriosis_7211.bc?page=2#articlesection6 This procedure will allow your doctor to see where the endometrial tissue is located within your pelvic region and determine the size and shape of any growths.

If you have a mild to moderate case of endometriosis, your chances of getting pregnant naturally are very good. If you have moderate to severe endometriosis you can increase your changes of getting pregnant with treatment.

1. Remove endometrial tissue with laparoscopy
2. Remove cysts or adhesions with surgery
3. Hormone therapy
   • Hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for endometriosis. Talk your doctor about this option because you may need to wait before trying to conceive.http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/endometriosis/sub2.cfm

In cases where other endometriosis treatments have failed, assisted reproduction may be an option. Infertility treatments usually begin with a medication that helps the ovaries produce eggs. During in vitro fertilization (IVF) the egg is removed directly from the ovary, fertilized outside of the body and the embryo is then put in the uterus. Another method is Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT). This is when the egg and sperm are put into the fallopian tube and allowed to fertilize there; this technique is done when fallopian tubes are functional. If the fallopian tubes are scarred or blocked due to endometriosis, IVF will be the preferred treatment.http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/endometriosis/EM_infertile.html