It often surreptitiously enters as a ‘silent thief’ in women’s lives, snatching away their hopes of parenthood without giving any warning. This is because this chronic disease is characterised by the growth of tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus outside the uterus. It may also pose no pain or symptoms to the affected women, hence getting the nickname ‘silent endometriosis.’ According to physicians, this disease can lie dormant and evade detection through ultrasounds or blood tests without warning and often goes unnoticed by affected women. However, it impairs women’s ability to become pregnant by interfering with the inflammatory conditions in the pelvic region, reducing the integrity of the fallopian tubes, and weakening the quality and implantation capacity of eggs.
Endometriosis affects millions of women across the globe. However, it takes years before it can be diagnosed due to its symptoms, which can easily be neglected. In conversation with The Daily Jagran, Dr Puneet Rana Arora, Gynaecologist & IVF Expert, Director-CIFAR, Gurugram, explains how endometriosis can delay motherhood silently.
How Endometriosis Impacts Fertility
Endometriosis can affect fertility in many different ways. Dr Puneet Rana Arora states “The endometrial implants can cause inflammation, scarring, and adhesions around and in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other organs in the pelvis.” These adhesions can prevent the fallopian tubes from being open or simply result in the lack of meeting of the egg and sperm. Ovulation can be altered in some instances of endometriosis, lowering the chance of conception. Even minimal endometriosis can result in a situation that is not conducive to conception.
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Issues With Conception
Women with endometriosis face challenges in conception. Endometriosis does not cause infertility. Most women with the condition conceive without assisted conception. Endometriosis might lower the quality of the egg cells or disrupt hormonal regulation. If conception succeeds, the time taken might be longer. If conception fails, assisted conception methods like in vitro fertilisation might be preferred.
Endometriosis Delaying Pregnancy (Image Credits: Canva)
Effect On Pregnancy
When pregnancy happens, most cases of endometriosis result in a normal pregnancy. Dr Puneet Rana Arora says, “Yet there has been a slight increase in the risk of complications or issues like miscarriage, preterm labour, or placenta-related issues.”
Diagnosis And Treatment
Early intervention is also very important in the preservation of fertility in the patient. Some of the management options include the management of the pain, the use of hormones, as well as surgery for the removal of the growths in the uterus lining.
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Endometriosis may silently impact and alter one’s fertility and pregnancy, but with knowledge and early intervention, this has a great impact and makes a huge difference. Many women with endometriosis conceive and have healthy pregnancies with adequate medical care and attention, and this shows that endometriosis doesn’t determine one’s fertility and reproductive abilities.