ENDOMETRIOSIS
Infertility. Endometriosis is a fairly common cause of infertility, with between 25 and 50 per cent of infertile women being found to have it, although in many the disease will be mild. It interrupts conception not only by the mechanical barriers it may produce (like scarring and cysts), but also through producing a hormonal effect on the tubes and the ovaries. It can affect the passage of eggs through the fallopian tubes, and the functions of the ovary. So someone who is found to have only a few little splotchy bits of endometriosis nowhere near the tubes may still have trouble getting pregnant because of these. Treating the endometriosis may help to restore fertility.
Assessment of treatment. A further laparoscopy may be performed after drug treatment to assess if the deposits have gone. Regular follow up is recommended even if the treatment is successful, as the disease can recur.
Pregnancy rates in infertile women who have had treatment for endometriosis vary greatly. Figures can range from 0 to 85 per cent, depending on the site and severity of the condition. As a general guide, the more extensive the disease to begin with, the lower the success rate of treatment, and the higher the rate of recurrence. Fortunately, the majority of cases are mild and respond well to treatment.
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