1 in 10 infertile women with endometriosis
A growing number of women with endometriosis who turn to assisted reproduction. The desire for a child does not stop in front of a growing spread of disease and for which there are no healing therapies. Science, however, has taken important steps, giving a good chance of pregnancy to those who suffer from this disease. “Thanks to the most recent discoveries, we can have success rates that exceed 30 percent. An average but it must always take into consideration the woman’s age,” says Michael Jemec, specialist in reproductive medicine center for assisted reproduction procreation of Lugano (Switzerland).
Moreover, the combination of fertility problems and endometriosis – which is celebrated in these days the European Week of awareness of endometriosis, the Endometriosis Awareness Week desired by the European Alliance – is present in almost 50 percent of women of reproductive age. Not always the patient suffers from pain.
And in many cases it is not possible to get pregnant naturally. “Faced with the desire to become mothers in the last three years increased by 20 per cent of women with this disease who have turned to procreate, but not always, endometriosis was the only obstacle to pregnancy,” says Jemec . Furthermore, “Statistically we found that about 10 percent of infertility problems in women, dependent on the presence of endometriosis.
In particular, endometriosis is a disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue, namely the mucosa that normally lines the uterine cavity, in different locations.
“It can damage the ovaries, bladder or intestine, causing severe pain to the woman,” says Jemec. It is a disease spread: the UN estimates that at least 10 percent of all women of reproductive age suffer. “Endometriosis leads to irritation and inflammation of the tissues, a situation that is not conducive to a pregnancy,” says the doctor.
“The number of international studies that have been made have led to identify specific methods of treatment. The surgical removal of the endometrium did not lead to increase the chances of pregnancy in IVF treatment, more successes were obtained by going to analyze the inflammation that endometriosis causes: lowering the levels of self-defense organization, the chances of pregnancy increased.
As endometriosis is still a disease is not curable, “it is important to locate it in time to contain its effects,” recommends Jemec. “A sound prevention not only allows the woman to suffer a little ‘less, but also to preserve their reproductive systems. In its most acute phases, in fact, endometriosis can also lead to infertility.”
