Infertility
About 3 or 4 out of 10 women who have endometriosis will have difficulty falling pregnant. One of the causes is that the endometriosis damages or blocks the fallopian tubes. If the fallopian tubes do not work properly, fertilisation will be very difficult or not possible. Although a woman has two fallopian tubes leading to the uterus, natural pregnancy may still take place even if only one tube is working properly.
Another reason why a woman may be unable to fall pregnant is that damage has occurred to her ovaries. This is caused by patches of endometrium attaching to the ovaries so that an egg cannot be released.
Other effects
Pain will worsen over the years if the endometriosis is not treated because bleeding occurs from the patches during each period. This may lead to inflammation and scar tissue forming inside the abdomen and pelvic cavity. Over time, scar tissue may pull on other tissue, so the pain is felt during periods. Small cysts and blisters may also develop, which can attach to other tissue, causing further pain.
Because endometriosis affects only women who have periods it is likely to improve after menopause. These factors help improve the symptoms in older women.
Pregnancy may improve endometriosis. A woman may find that her symptoms improve even after the baby is born and her periods come back. Doctors are often uncertain why this happens in some women and not others. However, pregnancy does not cure endometriosis.
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