Endometriosis may impact your fertility and plans to become pregnant.
Research suggests women with endometriosis are twice as likely to experience infertility as those without the condition. But not all people with endometriosis have trouble getting pregnant.
If you feel worried or depressed about having endometriosis and fertility problems, talk to your doctor, counsellor or psychologist. They can help you understand the diagnosis and your options, such as fertility treatment.
On this page you’ll find information about fertility treatment and how pregnancy may impact symptoms of endometriosis.
If you have endometriosis-related infertility, it’s recommended you work with a team of health professionals with a special interest in fertility and endometriosis. They may suggest keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) to remove endometriosis lesions or cysts and improve your chance of pregnancy. This might be more effective if you have minimal to mild endometriosis.
If you still find it hard to get pregnant after surgery, you can talk to your doctor about other options. For example:
If you decide to try fertility treatment, it’s important to get support. Most IVF units have counsellors who will support you throughout the assessment and treatment process. Counselling before fertility treatment can help you to:
There is little evidence to show that pregnancy reduces or stops symptoms of endometriosis.
Some women have fewer symptoms during pregnancy, but symptoms usually return after giving birth. So, it’s important to continue with medical care for endometriosis after the baby is born.
Read Melissa’s story about the pain and frustration that comes with having endometriosis.
This content has been reviewed by a group of medical subject matter experts, in accordance with Jean Hailes policy.
© Jean Hailes Foundation. All rights reserved.
