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Endometriosis and infertility? Know how ivf helps!

By Medical Expert Team

Nov 08 , 2020 | 2 min read

Getting pregnant can become an immensely frustrating experience for women with Endometriosis or chocolate cyst as they worry about whether they will be able to conceive and bear a child. This is because, in such cases, there is a collection of endometrial tissue outside the uterus that results in a painful inflammation along with the formation of blood-filled cysts in the ovary called Chocolate cysts or Endometriomas and bands of scar tissues.

How does endometriosis affect the process of reproduction?

When a woman has endometriosis, there are endometrial growths of the tissue hindering the normal functioning of the reproductive organs. When it involves the ovaries, there is a restriction on the release of eggs. On the other hand, when the fallopian tubes are affected, it would prevent the sperm from reaching the egg or it may also stop the fertilized egg from travelling to the uterus. Though each of these instances may sound challenging, experts suggest that IVF treatment can be helpful in offering desired results especially in advanced diseases. It is estimated that about one-third of women suffering from endometriosis can conceive naturally without any treatment whatsoever. But for the rest of the women who suffer from endometriosis, IVF can be the best solution.

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How can IVF help in getting pregnant in this scenario?

In order to make pregnancy possible for women of endometriosis, the doctor would definitely begin with a comprehensive evaluation of hormones and ovarian reserve along with the diagnostic tests such as laparoscopy & hysteroscopy, if required, which can also be of great value in offering an insight into the individual patient’s condition and stage the disease and decide the plan of management accordingly. Surgery in cases of small endometriomas is not recommended as there may be loss of some ovarian tissue which could decrease the ovarian reserve of the women and also the chances of recurrences are high.

IVF provides the best solution in such cases. There are 5 fundamental steps in IVF:

Super-ovulation or the process of stimulating the reproductive organs of a woman for releasing numerous healthy eggs
The second step constitutes the retrieval of eggs and sperm collection
Then eggs are fertilized with the help of the sperm
Development of embryos takes place and their evaluation is done for their quality and morphology
Transfer of the embryo in the uterus of the woman and once the process has been successful; the embryo is implanted in the uterus and causes the much-desired pregnancy. If there are any extra embryos remaining, they may be stored for use in future.

Since IVF allows a controlled interaction between the egg and the sperm, it offers a high rate of success even when the patient is affected by complex disorders such as endometriosis or cyst. Hence, discuss with your doctor if it is a viable option for the given situation. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!