Endometriosis and Infertility

Millions of women in the United States suffer from endometriosis. Many go untreated or undiagnosed. The outcome of untreated endometriosis can be very serious, including infertility, progressive pain and organ damage.

Women who suffer the effects of endometriosis often experience debilitating pain and discomfort. Some end up losing their jobs or even dropping out of school to try and cope with the pain. The problem is, many women think that they are just experiencing normal period pain, such as cramping, abdominal pain and back pain. Endometriosis is a progressive disease and gets worse over time. Delaying treatment can cause infertility and severe organ damage.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of endometriosis, you need to see your doctor right away. This is not something that should be put off, due to the escalating nature of the disorder. Symptoms may be very mild and sometimes go completely unnoticed by some women. This does not mean that the endometriosis is not severe. Endometriosis tends to be illusive due to the fact that symptoms can be anywhere from not noticeable to extreme. Also, the diagnosis is difficult because endometriosis symptoms mimic many other diseases and disorders.

If symptoms are noticeable, they can include pelvic pain, menstrual cramps that can be severe, and/or cramping during intercourse, urination or bowel movements. Symptoms generally get progressively worse over time, but they can vary a lot from woman to woman. Some women have varying degrees of pain and some experience more relief over time. It is very hard to pinpoint endometriosis symptoms and it is often dismissed as part of the menstrual cycle. The one thing that generally triggers women to seek diagnosis and treatment is infertility.

Endometriosis is only properly diagnosed through laparoscopy. Laparoscopy gives the doctor a clear view inside of the pelvis and abdomen. Biopsies of tissues can be taken during the laparoscopic treatment to help produce an accurate diagnosis. Laparoscopy is usually performed under general anesthesia and is considered a minor surgery. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to give the surgeon room to look around. A laparoscope is inserted through a small incision and patients usually go home the same day after the procedure.

Women who have endometriosis are not always infertile, but many are. About a quarter of women seeking infertility treatment discover, through exploratory laparoscopy, that endometriosis is the cause of their infertility. Many women are able to regain their fertility after a laparoscopic surgery. Be sure that you select a skilled and experienced infertility specialist, or reproductive endocrinologist to perform your laparoscopy endometriosis treatment.

About the Author

About the Author: Eric Daiter is the medical director of The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, LLC, a leading NEW JERSEY INFERTILITY CENTER that offers a complete range of MALE INFERTILITY AND FEMALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT. For more information on The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and Dr. Eric Daiter please visit www.drericdaitermd.com.