When you want to have a baby, it’s stressful and upsetting to have difficulty conceiving. Endometriosis, a common condition where uterine fibroids grow outside your uterus, can cause some women to have more difficulty conceiving. But most women with this condition can go on to become pregnant.

The team at Artemis Advanced Office Gynecology, led by board-certified gynecologist Julie Madejski, MD, FACOG, offers fertility and conception support to women who have endometriosis. Learn more about how endometriosis can impact fertility and what your options are to improve your odds of pregnancy.

What is endometriosis?

Endometrial tissue typically lines the inner layer of a woman’s uterus. In women with endometriosis, this uterine lining grows in other areas, such as your fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvic area.

Endometriosis can be extremely painful, causing pain and cramping during menstruation, urination, bowel movements, and sexual intercourse. You might also experience abnormal uterine bleeding, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue, with symptoms intensifying during your period.

Does endometriosis cause fertility problems?

Endometriosis causes challenges with conception in a third to a half of women with the condition. Some women first learn they have endometriosis after seeking out treatment for infertility.

Can I get pregnant if I have endometriosis?

While conception can be more challenging for some women with endometriosis, it’s possible to get pregnant with endometriosis. The majority of women with this condition are able to get pregnant, either naturally or with the help of fertility treatment.

What treatments are available to help me conceive with endometriosis?

If you’ve been diagnosed with or suspect you have endometriosis and would like to conceive, or you’ve tried to conceive for six months without success, make an appointment with Dr. Madejski for an evaluation. She performs a full assessment of your health and develops a treatment plan to help you get pregnant.

The procedures Dr. Madejski recommends depend on the severity of your endometriosis, age, and personal history. These are some of the many treatments for endometriosis available. 

Living a healthy lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle reduces inflammation throughout the body and can help women with mild endometriosis conceive naturally. Aim to eat a healthy diet, exercise most days of the week, and maintain or attain a healthy weight. 

Laparoscopy

Dr. Madejski can perform robot-assisted laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses microscopic incisions, to increase your likelihood of conceiving with endometriosis. With da Vinci robot surgical technology, Dr. Madejski begins the procedure by getting a high-definition view of your reproductive organs.

Using this enhanced view, Dr. Madejski finds and removes any visible endometrial tissues or cystic growths outside of your uterus. Removing these tissues significantly improves your ability to conceive naturally.

Fertility treatments

If you haven’t been able to conceive naturally, you can become pregnant using fertility procedures. Treatments available include medications, intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Clomiphene and similar fertility medications improve your chances of conception by causing your fallopian tubes to release additional healthy eggs every month. Instead of one, they typically release 2-3 eggs.

With IUI, sperm is directly injected into your uterus when you’re fertile. Sperm is concentrated in this procedure and in your uterus, which increases your odds of conception.

IVF involves fertilizing your egg with sperm outside of your uterus. The fertilized embryo is then inserted into your uterus.

If you have endometriosis and are having trouble conceiving, know that there are a number of options to help you have a baby. For assistance with getting pregnant with endometriosis, call our Lockport, New York, office today to make your appointment.