How endometriosis impacts your fertility
Endometriosis is a very common condition and affects up to 40% of women who experience infertility. Newcastle Ultrasound provides personalised, expert care and advanced diagnostic techniques to examine if this is the underlying cause of your infertility.
Once a diagnosis is confirmed, in many cases treatment and ongoing management can restore fertility. Over the last three years almost 90% of patients have had successful pregnancies within one year of being treated for infertility and endometriosis in particular at our clinic.
Dr Raymond is highly experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and offers advanced laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery with excision and removal of endometriotic tissue. Simple hormonal treatment, diathermy or burning are not adequate treatments to restore fertility.
Often women will not realise that they have endometriosis until they are unable to fall pregnant
Many women report no or very vague symptoms. At times symptoms can resemble those of irritable bowel syndrome. Where symptoms are clearly marked, the most characteristic include pelvic pain, painful periods and painful sex. If left untreated, scarring and infertility can occur.
In endometriosis uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus. It is not yet fully understood why certain women develop the condition, or how it progresses through the body
Immune system function and genetic factors may play a part in the origins of the condition. Many women that present with endometriosis also have autoimmune markers, suggesting a relationship between the two. Old scar tissue, for example after a surgical procedure or an episiotomy, may become a landing site for endometriosis to develop. The most common sites are directly in the pelvis close to the uterus, ovaries and tubes which all directly affect fertility.
Endometriosis creates an environment that is incompatible with supporting good quality ovulation, fertilisation and implantation
Endometrial tissue can grow in superficial patches, in larger and deep nodules or in cysts in the pelvic cavity. These adhesions and endometriomas can distort the anatomy of the uterus which can prevent proper implantation of the embryo once it has been fertilised. Hormones released by the abnormally growing tissue can affect conception and pregnancy.
On average it takes 8 years to diagnose endometriosis. In some cases it can take as long as 12 years. However, it doesn’t have to be this way
It does not matter what your age is – if you have not been able to fall pregnant within 6-12 months of actively trying, you will want to begin your investigations as soon as possible.
For more information about the symptoms and treatment of endometriosis and how it may be affecting your fertility, contact your GP to discuss a referral to Newcastle Ultrasound
You can download a referral form for your GP here. For more information please call our patient liaison coordinator on (02) 4957 3899.
