Can I Get Pregnant If I Have Endometriosis?

Many women worry about their ability to get pregnant after learning they have endometriosis, a condition that affects about 11% of women in their childbearing years. While it's true you may have some difficulties conceiving a pregnancy with the condition, know that most women are able to conceive naturally.

At The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group, our team of experienced OB/GYNs have extensive experience helping women manage their endometriosis symptoms. We also offer services to help you achieve a healthy pregnancy.

Understanding endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally lines your uterus — called endometrial tissue — grows outside of your uterus. This tissue can grow on various pelvic organs.

And, even though this tissue grows outside of your uterus, it still acts as if it were inside your uterus, thickening and breaking down each month during your menstrual cycle. Problems arise because the tissue has nowhere to go and no way to leave your body.

This can cause pelvic pain, heavy periods, and pain during bowel movements in some women. And, since this tissue can grow on any of your reproductive organs, including your fallopian tubes and ovaries, it can interfere with your ability to conceive a pregnancy.

Treatment options for endometriosis

While there’s currently no cure for endometriosis, there are options to treat your condition without lowering your chances for a healthy pregnancy. We offer comprehensive physical exams, pelvic exams, and nonsurgical hysteroscopy procedures to confirm that your symptoms are due to endometriosis.

If you need treatment for endometriosis, our team may recommend hormone birth control pills to control heavy periods and ease other symptoms of endometriosis. When you’re ready to become pregnant, we can put you on a gonadotropin-releasing agonist (GnRH).

This medication puts you into temporary menopause to control the growth of endometrial tissue for a period of time. When you stop using the medication, your menstrual cycle returns, and you may find it easier to become pregnant naturally.

If medications aren’t enough to treat your endometriosis, you may be a candidate for surgery.

What to expect from endometriosis surgery

If our team determines that you need surgery to remove abnormal endometrial tissue from your reproductive organs, we can use minimally invasive techniques to minimize damage to your body.

Your surgeon can perform the procedure laparoscopically through very small incisions and remove the patches of irregular tissue. This type of surgery preserves your reproductive organs to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

You’ll need some time to recover from your surgery before conceiving. Our team will recommend the best time to start trying for a baby based on the results of your surgery and your medical history.

Once you become pregnant, our team offers a variety of prenatal and pregnancy care services to support your journey to motherhood. We offer care for both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies and have midwives on staff to ensure you get the most out of your pregnancy experience.

If you have concerns about your fertility because of endometriosis, schedule a consultation by booking an appointment online or over the phone with The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group today.