Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrium grows outside the womb, for example into the abdominal cavity, on or inside the ovaries, the bladder or intestine, or sometimes deeply embedded in the muscle tissue of the womb itself. It is believed that around 5-10% of all women suffer from endometriosis. Amongst women with impaired fertility, endometriosis is significantly more common, affecting 30-40% of all cases.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Severe pain during menstruation can be a symptom of endometriosis, but this illness often remains undiagnosed, since in many cases abdominal imaging is needed to make a definite diagnosis.

Causes of endometriosis

The cause of this disease remains unclear, but it can have a negative effect on fertility in many ways. In severe cases of endometriosis, adhesions in the fallopian tubes and/or ovaries are often the cause of infertility. But even mild endometriosis, which may only be diagnosed by chance or during infertility investigations, can also result in impairments that cause infertility. The most significant of these are difficulties with maturation of the egg cells, which affects the implantation of the embryo in the womb.

Treatment

Our team has over 20 years’ experience in researching the causes of endometriosis and the development of possible forms of treatment. Today in vitro fertilization, particularly in combination with ICSI and/or assisted embryo hatching, offers the best chance of becoming pregnant.