Learning about endometriosis is important, whether you’re concerned about symptoms or have recently been diagnosed. Inside the uterus, there is a lining of cells. These are called endometrial cells or the endometrial lining. Endometriosis is a disease in which that kind of tissue (usually only found on the inside of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus as well. It can grow in small nodules or cover other parts of the body throughout the abdominal cavity.
Facts about endometriosis to consider
Here are the important facts about endometriosis, including what causes it, how it impacts fertility, and potential treatment options.
What causes endometriosis?
The short answer? We just don’t know. There are many theories about what causes endometriosis, but we need more research to find a cause. What we do know for sure is that family history matters. If you have close relatives with endometriosis, you’re more likely to suffer from it. It is very likely that endometriosis is influenced by many factors, including your genetics and immune system.
What symptoms are common?
Exhaustion, pain during sex, persistent lower back and abdominal pain, spotting, extremely intense period symptoms, and intestinal discomfort are frequent Symptoms may worsen during ovulation (mid-cycle) and during your period.
How does endometriosis affect fertility?
Although endometriosis is much more common in those experiencing infertility, endometriosis can cause different complications in different folks. Endometriosis can block fertility by scarring the uterus, ovaries, lining of the pelvic cavity, and – especially – the fallopian tubes. Less commonly affected areas include the rectum, bladder, cervix, and vagina. Scarring and nodules of endometrial tissue may make it difficult for fertilization or implantation to occur.
How can I treat endometriosis?
Endometriosis can be painful and seriously hinder your chances of getting pregnant, so it’s important to take the best course of action possible when treating it. Here are some tips to increase your chances of getting pregnant with endometriosis:
- Adjust your diet and exercise regimen: Eating a nutrient-rich diet is important in regulating your menstrual cycle, and exercising can help keep the painful abdominal symptoms at bay.
- Pain medications: Although pain medications treat the symptoms and not the underlying problem causing endometriosis, they can be essential in helping cope with the intense physical discomforts. Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen may be enough, but if not, a doctor may recommend stronger, prescription-only pain relievers. Talk to your provider about what is safe to take while trying to conceive and in the early weeks of the first trimester.
- Talk to your doctor about investigating what’s been damaged: If there has been significant scarring on your reproductive organs important for conceiving (e.g. ovaries, fallopian tubes), this is important to know in order to find a path forward.
- Hormone treatments: Your doctor may prescribe hormone treatments to reduce the amount of estrogen in your body that could be influencing too much tissue growth. Many hormonal treatments are also birth control methods, so make sure that your healthcare providers know that you’re actively trying to conceive so that your treatment method doesn’t interfere with your fertility. It is possible that a short course of hormonal birth control could be helpful in the months before you begin trying to conceive.
- Track your fertility to maximize your chances of conceiving: If you are able to pinpoint your ovulation and fertile window (the time when you have the best chance of getting pregnant), you have a much higher likelihood of conceiving faster.
It can be frustrating and disheartening that endometriosis doesn’t have a single, always-effective cure, but it’s still a condition you can conquer with treatments and support. And with more than five million people in the U.S. coping with it, you’re never alone.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health by Labcorp Clinical Team
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Sources
- ACOG “Diagnosis of Endometriosis” Clinical Practice Guideline Number 11. March 2026. Web.
- “Patient Fact Sheet: Endometriosis.” ASRM. American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2012. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Endometriosis.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, Aug. 20, 2024. Web.
