Can Pregnancy Reverse Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a reproductive condition that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including menstrual pain, prolonged or irregular menstruation, and difficulty getting pregnant. Despite the ways endometriosis can interfere with fertility, many women who suffer from the condition become pregnant, often with the help of fertility medication or treatment.
Women who suffer from endometriosis may wonder, “Can pregnancy reverse endometriosis?” The fertility specialists at the Center for Fertility and Gynecology, which serves Los Angeles, CA, Tarzana, CA, Bakersfield, CA, and surrounding areas explain how pregnancy may impact endometriosis symptoms and whether it can reverse or cure the condition.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic disease that is estimated to affect more than 11 percent of women of reproductive age in the United States. The disease is characterized by the growth of endometrial cells (cells that line the uterus) outside the uterus. Endometrial tissues grow outside the uterus (often around the ovaries) and form patches that leak blood and fluid around the time of a woman’s period.
Some of the most common symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Excessive pelvic pain and cramping during the menstrual cycle
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements or urination
- Constipation or bloating
- Fatigue
- Excessive menstrual bleeding
- Irregular periods
- Infertility
Can Pregnancy Reverse or Cure Endometriosis?
Endometriosis frequently makes it difficult for women to conceive because the menstrual cycle is irregular and the condition creates scar tissue that can block the fallopian tubes or interfere with egg implantation. Fortunately, the fertility treatments offered at the Center for Fertility and Gynecology, such as IVF, can assist women suffering from endometriosis to become pregnant.
Since many endometriosis symptoms are most severe during the menstrual cycle and a woman does not menstruate during pregnancy, it is common for women to wonder if pregnancy can reverse or cure endometriosis. Unfortunately, pregnancy does not reverse endometriosis nor is it a cure for the disease.
Pregnancy and Endometriosis Symptoms
Although pregnancy does not reverse or cure endometriosis, many women experience relief from endometriosis symptoms during pregnancy. Endometriosis symptoms may be alleviated because women do not have a period during pregnancy, which is when most symptoms occur. Symptoms can also improve due to the hormonal changes that occur throughout pregnancy.
It’s important to note that some women who suffer from endometriosis may continue to experience pelvic pain during pregnancy. While this is understandably concerning, pain does not often indicate a complication. Most women with endometriosis have a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy.
Endometriosis Symptoms After Pregnancy
Since pregnancy often brings relief from endometriosis symptoms, women are usually anxious to see if symptoms come back after pregnancy. Many women find that endometriosis symptoms continue to be minimal or non-existent after delivery, especially if they are breastfeeding. However, it is not uncommon for endometriosis symptoms to return when the menstrual cycle resumes.
Contact Us
Women who suffer from endometriosis often suffer painful symptoms, including infertility. The specialists at the Center for Fertility and Gynecology are happy to work with patients to alleviate endometriosis symptoms and overcome fertility issues. To learn more, contact our practice and schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience.
