If you have endometriosis, you may feel like you’re marooned on an island.
Endo is one of the most common causes of infertility among women of reproductive age, but it’s also one of the most frustrating—because we don’t really know what causes it and it affects every woman differently, which means it’s not always easy to treat.
The good news is, you’re not stranded. The right reproductive team can help manage your symptoms—such as pain, scarring, or inflammation—while preserving your fertility so that you can start building a family.
It’s completely understandable that some women with endometriosis choose the medical solution that will end their pain as quickly as possible. But if the solution is a hysterectomy it also means permanent infertility. So before you take that step, consult with a specialist. You may be able to lessen the severity of or work around your symptoms without major surgery. And with such options intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization, you can potentially conceive despite your endometriosis.
If you’ve tried to manage your endo and you and your physician determine that uterus removal is the only way to resolve your condition, work with a fertility clinic before you have surgery. Egg retrieval and egg freezing now give you the option of using a gestational carrier later to have a biological child, if that’s important to you.
Endometriosis is a real condition that can stop you cold in your tracks, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey toward building a family.
