What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition in which cells like of inner lining of the uterus can be seen outside it. It can affect ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even bowel or bladder. When an endometrial gland (uterine lining) grows inside the muscle of the uterus, it is called adenomyosis.
What symptoms do you have with endometriosis?
Endometriosis can present with a variety of symptoms.
Pain: You might have dysmenorrheal or pain during periods.
Infertility: Also endometriosis is an important reason for infertility or difficulty in conceiving.
Ovarian cyst: With endometriosis. ovaries are might develop blood-filled cyst called endometriomas
Is there a test to diagnose endometriosis?
No blood test can definitely diagnose this condition. It is only through clinical findings & by laparoscopy, a definitive diagnosis can be made.
Why does endometriosis occur?
The cause or the reason endometriosis happens is not clear. The common understanding that is used to explain endometriosis is that menstrual blood goes backward through fallopian tubes into the abdomen & around the ovarian to cause this condition.
Why does endometriosis cause infertility?
Endometriosis causes scarring of pelvic tissues. This damages the tube-ovarian relationship and causes difficulty in conceiving.
How do you treat infertility associated with endometriosis?
The treatment depends on a number of factors. It depends on the age of patients, presence of endometriosis on ultrasound, previous history of surgery and duration of infertility, to name a few. It is always better to consult a fertility specialist to decide the course of treatment.
Do all endometriosis require surgery?
No, not at all. There is no indication for repeated surgeries in case of infertility as it might further decrease the number of eggs in the ovary.
Can IVF be done with endometrioma?
Yes, IVF can be done even with endometriomas present in ovaries. They do not impact the number of eggs retrieved and do not impair your success rates.
Do all women with endometriosis require IVF?
The treatment of choice depends on the stage of endometriosis & age of patients. In women who are younger than 35 years of age and have mild endometriosis can be offered a trial of nutrition induction & IUI (intrauterine insemination) but in order women (> 35 years) and with severe endometriosis. It is a good idea to directly resort to IUF.
So to summarize endometriosis is an important cause of infertility. It is always better to consult a fertility specialist or IVF doctor sooner rather than later if suffering from this condition. Dr. Prerna Gupta with her immense experience is the best IVF doctor for endometriosis.
