What Is Endometriosis and How Does It Affect Fertility?

In the midst of Endometriosis Awareness Month, which occurs over the course of March, we would like to bring awareness to the link between endometriosis and infertility. If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis or are unfamiliar with the condition, we offer insight into its nature and impact on fertility.

Endometriosis is a health condition in women that causes the tissue lining of the uterus to develop in other areas, altering the pelvic anatomy. These deposits of uterine tissue can bleed and release toxins referred to as the “peritoneal factor” that then coat the membranes of all the pelvic and abdominal organs. When the eggs pass from the ovaries to the fallopian tubes, they are exposed to these toxins and as a result, are made less receptive to the sperm and less likely to be fertilized.

Women who struggle with endometriosis can have as little as 5% likelihood of conceiving naturally. Even after surgery to remove the visible lesions that release toxins, endometriosis continues to develop new lesions and may have deposits of toxic tissue that are not yet visible. For this reason, endometriosis surgery often doesn’t improve the chances of fertility, which is why many women benefit more from fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilization.

In vitro fertilization extracts eggs from the ovaries before they are released, and then fertilizes them with sperm and transfers them to the uterus to bypass any toxic environments. To learn more about this procedure and the effects of endometriosis in Pleasant Grove, Utah, please contact Utah Fertility Center at 801-785-5100 and schedule an appointment with our reproductive endocrinologists.