Clínica Santa María Centro especializado en Técnicas de Reproducción Humana

Endometriosis is a disease that affects women on reproductive age.

The tissue that covers the uterine cavity is called “endometrium”. This is the tissue that gets ready every month to receive the embryo. When pregnancy does not take place in a cycle, the endometrium sheds and menstruation occurs.

The presence of the endometrium outside the uterine cavity is called “endometriosis”.

It is the appearance of the endometrium (tissue lining the inside of the uterus) outside the uterus. This tissue develops into nodules, tumors or injury and can cause pain, infertility and other problems.

The most common symptoms are:

-       pain before and during menstrual periods

-       pain during and after intercourse

-       infertility

-       heavy or irregular bleeding

However, sometimes no symptoms are present and, on the other hand, the intensity of pain is not always related to the spread of the disease.

Endometriosis can cause infertility for the following reasons:

Anatomical disruption

the inflammation caused by endometriosis may cause the body to form adhesions or for pelvic structures to stick together (intestines, Fallopian tubes, etc.), disrupting the reproductive process.

Production of inflammatory substances

Some of the substances that are produced in the inflammation process of endometriosis are toxic for the ovule causing a decrease in its capability to be fertilized.

Obstruction of Fallopian tubes

Blockages or obstructions can occur when endometriosis affects the Fallopian tubes from within.

The diagnosis it is proven by laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure done under anesthesia through small incisions in the abdomen.

Treatment depends on whether the objective is to achieve pregnancy or relieve pain. In the case of endometriosis and infertility treatments are varied: first-line surgery (laparoscopic), ovarian hyperstimulation, artificial insemination and IVF, with very good results.

In the case of treating pain, the treatments are eliminating the outbreaks of the disease by surgery and then stop menstruating for a few periods to prevent the progression of the disease.

Pregnancy helps improve endometriosis since they do not have menstruation for several months and delivery helps to dilate the cervix.

This disease produces a chronic inflammation of the pelvis, as with each menstruation the patient has, these loci of endometriosis also bleed.

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