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Endometriosis Inhibits Fertility
Around one in ten women that are infertile are unable to conceive because of a condition known as Endometriosis. The condition itself is a relatively common malady, affecting around six percent of women in the United States. Some women can still conceive normally, or with only mild issues, even with this condition, but between thirty and forty percent of women with Endometriosis are unable to conceive normally.
Women with Endometriosis are considerably more likely to be infertile than their peers, as infertility afflicts only ten to twenty percent of American women as a whole.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the Uterus functions abnormally. The Endometrium is the inner lining of the Uterus, and goes through a pattern of development and shedding along the pattern of the menstrual cycle. In women with Endometriosis, the lining of the uterus grows thicker than normal, sometimes so thick that it invades other areas of the female reproductive system, including the pelvic cavity, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
Endometriosis can inhibit fertility because of the various ways that this lining can suppress the normal function of the female reproductive system. For example, it may lead to blockages in the Fallopian Tube. It also increases the risk of infection and scarring of the reproductive organs. The Endometrium also has hormonal influence, which can inhibit the normal and healthy menstrual cycle that is conducive to pregnancy.
Ironically, one of the best treatments to improve fertility for patients with Endometriosis is the birth control pill. The fertility-suppressing mechanisms of the birth control pill also limit the issues associated with Endometriosis. Because Endometriosis is a cumulative condition which gets worse the longer that it is allowed to go on unimpeded, the patient can stop using birth control when she wishes to become pregnant, and her body will be more receptive to fertilization than it would be otherwise.
Surgery is also an option, if the patient is experiencing structural issues such as blockages resulting from the condition. Many women opt for in vitro fertilization that suffer from Endometriosis.
Other Physiological Issues Which Can Impact Female Fertility
A minimum of ten percent of fertility issues are the result of the malfunction of the uterus or a malformation of the organ. There are a number of Uterine issues which can block the passage of the Fallopian Tubes to the Uterus.
Around three percent of women are unable to conceive because of issues related to Cervical Mucus. This fluid is necessary in specific quantity and viscosity for sperm to be able to travel to the implanted egg successfully.
Other Prenatal and Genetic Defects aside from those related to the Fallopian Tubes can also inhibit fertility, or increase the risk of miscarriage.
