Endometriosis and pregnancy: the possibility of conception, complications, reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

It is not desirable to combine endometriosis and pregnancy, and for what reasons - we will understand below. The he alth of a woman during the gestational period requires increased attention, any deviations from the norm affect the expectant mother and her child. The reproductive system can suffer from hormonal changes, menstrual failure, external factors in a woman's life, which means that observation by a gynecologist should become regular from the onset of puberty.

What is endometriosis?

The inner surface of the uterus is covered with a mucous membrane, which experts call the endometrium. The coating is shed naturally during menstruation. When the harmonious work of the female organs fails, particles of the endometrium can spread outside the uterus. Foci penetrate into the muscle tissues of organs, both within the reproductive system and outside it. Nodules form, which can coalesce and develop into adhesions.

Endometroid tissue outside of the uterus grows and continues to respond to hormonal changes, causing pain during menstruation and in the days before and after it. Sucha phenomenon in the medical world is considered a disease.

Types of diseases

Depending on the foci of distribution, endometriosis is usually divided into two types:

1. Genital, when the disease is localized in the area of the uterus and its tubes.
2. Extragenital, when the disease has spread beyond the reproductive organ.

In medical practice, the disease occurs quite often, only a doctor can determine which type of pathology develops in the body. There are also cases of manifestation of both forms.

Experts believe that planning a pregnancy with endometriosis is better to postpone and focus on restoring he alth so as not to expose yourself to unwanted risks.

Why does endometrial spread

The development of endometriosis is usually associated with a number of factors that affect a woman's he alth. There is no consensus among doctors, but most often the cause of the disease is attributed to:

• Influence of hereditary factors.
• Development of hormonal imbalance.
• Failure in the body's immune processes.

Among other things, a stressful lifestyle and poor environment are often listed as catalysts for endometriosis.

There is an opinion that a pregnancy that occurs during endometriosis will be the best cure for the disease. Indeed, the growth activity of the endometrium in the gestational period is reduced, which helps to reduce the foci of the disease. However, in parallel with this, the risk of abortion increases. Gynecologists advise to deal with the pathology and not expose yourself to additional stress during pregnancy.

Extension of the endometrium outside the uterus is more likely to affect women with a medical history of the following:

• Frequent genitourinary infections.
• Abortion or difficult delivery.
• Surgical intervention in the reproductive system.
• Failure of the endocrine system.

It is also recommended not to abuse caffeine and get rid of harmful addiction to alcohol or smoking.

Symptoms of endometriosis

Symptoms of the disease, especially in the early stages, may be accompanied by pain in the premenstrual period and minor cycle failures. Usually, a woman does not pay much attention to such factors, since they can be provoked by the individual characteristics of the body and external stressful situations. Doctors openly say that an accurate diagnosis can only be made through examination.

During the development of endometriosis and an increase in the degree of neglect of the process, a number of other characteristic symptoms appear:

• Pain during intercourse.
• Strong deviations in the menstrual cycle.
• Pain syndrome during menstruation increases significantly.
• Bleeding between periods.
• The appearance of blood in the urine and pain during urination.

The best period for diagnosis is 2-3 days before the start of the nextmenstruation.

Is pregnancy possible with endometriosis

Many women are unable to conceive a child for a long time, which leads to inevitable stress. They are trying to figure out if endometriosis and pregnancy are compatible, and is it possible to get pregnant with such a diagnosis? Medical practice proves that it is possible, but the chances are not so great.

The reasons for this are explained by the influence of the disease on the body:

1. Ovarian function is impaired and ovulation does not occur despite a regular menstrual cycle.
2. The egg cannot pass through the fallopian tubes.
3. A fertilized egg is implanted incorrectly, which is more likely to lead not to a lack of conception, but to a miscarriage. Cases of ectopic pregnancy are not excluded.
4. Failure occurs in the endocrine system.

Experts recommend careful monitoring of contraception during treatment of the disease. Endometriosis and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive and can exist together if a fertilized egg manages to reach its destination. In this case, it is very important to follow all the doctor's recommendations to reduce the risk of sudden termination of pregnancy.

Pregnancy and endometriosis

Modern medicine has a wide range of means to save the fetus in an emergency.

If an unplanned pregnancy occurs with uterine endometriosis, it cannot be interrupted artificially. Abortion is not recommended, it can only catalyze the development of the disease and worsen the generalpicture of the disease.

If a woman suspects or knows about the disease, but the conception of a child has occurred, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. The gynecologist will prescribe an ultrasound to verify the fact of uterine pregnancy. If the diagnosis of endometriosis is confirmed during early pregnancy, no treatment is prescribed; in the first trimester, the woman is regularly examined.

In the second and third trimesters, the possibility of rejection and miscarriage increases. During this period, the doctor prescribes hormone therapy to reduce the level of uterine muscle activity and help the woman keep the baby.

In the last weeks of gestation, the expectant mother is placed in a hospital. With constant monitoring by doctors, a decision is made on the need for a caesarean section. With the development of endometriosis, there may be a risk of uterine rupture during vaginal delivery.

Disease diagnosis

Today, endometriosis is the most common gynecological disease in women. A correct diagnosis is a key step for further treatment.

Examination by a doctor is divided into several stages:

1. A conversation in which the gynecologist is interested in the presence of the main symptoms.
2. A number of gynecological examinations are scheduled to determine the condition of the uterus (possible enlargement).
3. Examination of the cervix in the period before menstruation allows you to see the foci of the disease.
4. An important step is the ultrasound, whichallows you to determine the size of the uterus and the condition of its muscular membrane, possible formations in the ovaries.

During the examination, the patency of the fallopian tubes must be checked. Diagnosis is widely used by means of an x-ray of the uterus, into which a contrast agent is previously injected. If the fallopian tubes are in order, then the picture will show the presence of contrast fluid in the abdominal cavity.

The use of laparoscopy to determine the patency of the fallopian tubes is used when it was not possible to find out by other means. This diagnostic method in gynecology is considered effective today, and modern medicine has achieved a reduction in the rehabilitation period after the procedure.

Treatment of endometriosis

It is customary to distinguish between several main methods of treatment:

• Surgical intervention.
• Physiotherapy support.
• Hormone therapy.

Physiotherapy

It is worth mentioning right away that physiotherapy methods are aimed more at reducing pain than at eliminating the disease. Therefore, it is most often used in combination with other types of treatment.

Hormones

Drug therapy using drugs containing hormones is widely used. Its main action is aimed at suppressing the functions of the ovaries, in other words, at provoking an artificial menopause. This approach allows to reduce the activity of the development of endometriosis, and the side effects of modern drugs are practically absent. After the abolition of hormones, the body is sufficientrecovering quickly.

In some cases, hormonal therapy is the first stage of the entire treatment, applicable in preparation for surgery. During the operation, the main foci of the disease are removed, which makes it possible to stop its spread. Hormones are prescribed for up to six months after, for the prevention and restoration of the he alth of female organs.

Hormone therapy in combination with surgery is considered the most effective method in complex cases of the disease.

During treatment, gynecologists often recommend using hormonal methods of contraception, which can also act as independent therapy (mainly in the early stages of the disease).

It is important to know that endometriosis will not disappear completely until natural menopause. Up to this point, you can only reduce the intensity of the development of the disease.

Operation

The use of a surgical method of treatment is caused by an advanced stage of endometriosis or obstruction of the fallopian tubes.

Surgery is performed only after hormone therapy.

Pregnancy helps to heal

There is an opinion that pregnancy is the best medicine. There is some truth in this statement, if in the presence of foci of endometriosis a woman managed to get pregnant correctly, then a change in the hormonal background will play against the disease. However, it will be necessary to constantly measure the thickness of the endometrium of the uterus so that the doctor can help the he althy gestation of the fetus in time.

The exception to these cases isovarian endometriosis, and pregnancy in this case will not help.

A woman should be aware that only a gynecologist can provide the right treatment and effective recommendations. Experimenting with women's he alth is not only harmful, but also dangerous. Endomentriosis and pregnancy are closely related, but you cannot rely on a happy coincidence.

Recovery and conception after treatment

The recovery period depends on the treatments that have been applied. The chance of pregnancy after endometriosis is high, especially if the woman follows the doctor's instructions exactly.

The use of hormonal contraception for the treatment of endometriosis does not allow conception during the course, but after the end of their use, the chances of getting pregnant are almost win-win.

If an artificial menopause was caused by hormone therapy, then when the course is stopped, the body can recover within a few months. After that comes conception.

Surgery requires longer attention and rehabilitation. After the operation, the woman is prescribed a course of hormonal drugs so that the reproductive system recovers faster. After surgery, conception is possible, although it will require a little more effort.

Cases when hormones do not help in treatment are rare, so a woman should not give in to unnecessary panic. Pregnancy after endometriosis is almost guaranteed.

After undergoing treatment, as a rule,a follow-up examination by a doctor is scheduled to make sure it is safe to try to conceive a child.

Endometriosis is not a death sentence

Any woman aspires to become a mother, and the problems that arise along the way can unsettle. The right approach to pregnancy planning is a sure step to success.

Reviews about pregnancy and endometriosis can serve as additional psychological support for a woman. Cases of successful treatment and conception are overwhelming, so there is no reason to succumb to despondency. Regular examination by a gynecologist will not allow the disease to develop and cause irreversible consequences. At the same time, diagnosis at an early stage will significantly reduce the duration of treatment.

Individual characteristics of the organism affect both the development of endometriosis and pregnancy. Modern medicine helps to control the development of both in order to give a woman the happiness of motherhood.