Endometriosis And Infertility: How To Get Pregnant With Endometriosis

Endometriosis and infertility frequently go hand in hand. According to research, 25 to 50 percent of infertile women suffer from endometriosis and 30 to 50 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile. [1] Many women who have been diagnosed with the disease wonder how to get pregnant with endometriosis, and want to know if natural conception is a realistic option at all, therefore.

Endometriosis is a disease in which abnormal endometrial tissue is present outside the uterine cavity. The endometrium is the innermost lining of the uterus (womb), which is supposed to be present inside the uterus only. Whenever this endometrium is present somewhere outside the uterus, endometriosis arises. [2]

This abnormal endometrial tissue can be present at various sites including the fallopian tubes, bowel, liver, and chest area. The gastrointestinal tract or gut is one of the most commonly involved sites in endometriosis. Areas of the gut that can be affected by endometriosis include the appendix, large intestine, and a part of small intestine. The bladder may also be affected by endometrial lesions. [3]

Symptoms of endometriosis include pain in the lower part of the abdomen, painful sexual intercourse, and crampy pain during periods that is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea. If the ovaries and fallopian tubes are affected, a woman can face infertility. [4]

Endometriosis can affect your quality of life to a very big extent. The pain can make it impossible for you to go to work, and painful sexual intercourse can prevent you from having a normal sex life. It is not surprising that endometriosis can ultimately lead to depression and that is why psychological treatment is also recommended along with physical treatment for endometriosis. [5]

How to get pregnant with endometriosis is an important topic which women who suffer from this disease discuss a lot with their friends, family, and doctors. Not being able to conceive is one of the most traumatizing features of endometriosis.

Oral Medications For Endometriosis May Pose Difficulty In Getting Pregnant

There are various options available to treat endometriosis. However, the methods most women are interested in are the ones which conserve fertility. Many oral drugs for endometriosis treatment have contraceptive effects. That is why, where these drugs are helpful in controlling symptoms, these drugs also interfere with conception. [6]

Ovulation Induction Drugs Can Help With Endometriosis

Your doctor can prescribe you ovulation induction drugs like clomiphene citrate (Clomid) to aid with getting pregnant. Gonadotrophin therapy is another treatment option that helps induce ovulation. These drugs help produce more than one egg and increase the chances of conception.

Conservative Surgeries Can Help Cure Your Infertility Issues

Different kinds of surgical and other treatment options are available for endometriosis. Some of these methods involve the removal of the womb and ovaries, hence leaving women infertile. Other surgeries, called conservative surgeries, conserve fertility.

Conservative surgeries are a very good option for women suffering from mild to moderate endometriosis. A doubling of pregnancy rates has been observed after performing these surgeries. [8] These surgeries are usually performed laparoscopically (via small incisions in the abdomen and with the aid of remote surgical tools) and involve the removal of endometriotic tissue.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Is A Trusted Option

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a trusted method for the treatment of infertility. This method can also be used for women who suffer from endometriosis. However, the IVF success rate is lower for endometriosis sufferers when compared with other causes of infertility. [9]

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves extracting an egg from the ovary and fertilizing it outside the body in womb-like conditions of nutrition and temperature. Once the egg is fertilized and the embryo is formed, it is placed in the womb where conception occurs and the baby grows as normal. The cost of this procedure is high, but it provides the greatest chance of getting pregnant with endometriosis.

Managing Your Diet Can Help

Home remedies are always there to help with different disorders. There are many home remedies to treat endometriosis as well. These remedies may decrease the severity of your disease, increasing the chances of conception.

Studies show that some diets can cause endometriosis while others can prevent it. This is why managing your food intake can help with this problem as endometriosis and infertility are related to your diet as well. [10]

Improve your diet by adding organic food. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Increase your intake of fiber as it is not only good to decrease the severity of your disease but good for general health as well. Increase your intake of sources of omega 3 fatty acids. These sources include flaxseeds, organic eggs, cod liver oil, nuts, avocado, and sunflower oil.

Avoid Environmental Toxins

A clear relationship has been established between environmental toxins and endometriosis. Many toxins have the ability to cause or aggravate endometriosis. [11]

So avoid exposure to environmental toxins. Stay away from pesticides, insecticides, synthetic fertilizers, and herbicides by using organic products if you can afford them. Also, limit the use of chemical containing cosmetics and rely on natural beauty products instead. Avoid preservative and dye-containing foods. Avoid the use of plastic utensils and other plastic products.

Natural Herbs Help

Some herbs reduce the severity of your endometriosis and hence increases your odds of conceiving naturally, without the help of assisted reproductive techniques. [12]

Wild yam, cramp bark, peony root, Jamaican dogwood, and goldenseal root are a few herbs that have proven benefits in the treatment of endometriosis, including by increasing your chances of getting pregnant naturally with the diseasae. These herbs regulate your hormones and improve uterine spasms and cramping.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Your lifestyle can cause or aggravate your endometriosis. If you are suffering from endometriosis, you need to make some lifestyle changes too. [13]

Smoking, alcohol, a sedentary lifestyle, and coffee are associated with endometriosis. If you avoid these harmful lifestyle choices, it will help improve endometriosis symptoms and ultimately increase your chance of conceiving a baby. You have obviously already stopped smoking and drinking if you are trying to conceive, but taking regular walks and setting up an exercise routine can also help!