Need Help Getting Pregnant With Endometriosis? A Closer Look at IUI and IVF

Even under the best circumstances, getting pregnant isn’t always easy. For women living with endometriosis, the path to pregnancy can come with added challenges. Affecting an estimated 89 million women and girls worldwide, endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility. 

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and the perfect time to learn about infertility treatment options if you’re navigating endometriosis and having difficulty conceiving. 

At CARE Fertility in Bedford and Fort Worth, Texas, our reproductive endocrinology and infertility experts offer advanced treatments designed to help you build your family. Here, we take a closer look at intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) as fertility treatments that may help women with endometriosis get pregnant. 

Endometriosis and fertility

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. During your menstrual cycle, the uterus builds a thick, nutrient-rich lining in preparation for pregnancy. If you don’t get pregnant, the body sheds this lining during your period.

With endometriosis, the endometrial-like tissue that’s outside of your uterus responds to hormonal changes just like the uterine lining. However, the discarded tissue has no way to exit the body, resulting in inflammation, irritation, and eventually scar tissue.

Displaced endometrial cells may grow on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outer uterine wall, and even your lower bowel. Endometriosis can interfere with conception in several ways, including:

• Scarring that blocks fallopian tubes
• Inflammation that damages the ovaries 
• Altered egg quality
• Difficulty with embryo implantation
• Immune system changes
• Hormonal shifts that affect the egg’s environment

While endometriosis is common, it’s difficult to diagnose — it may even take up to 10 years from first reporting symptoms to diagnosis. This delay can postpone treatment and allow the condition to progress and increase your risk of infertility.

When to visit a fertility specialist

If you have endometriosis and hope to become pregnant, you might want to schedule an appointment with us now. We can evaluate your health and create a proactive plan that supports your timeline and goals.

If you’ve been trying to conceive for a year or more without success, or six months or more if you’re 35 or older, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Many women have gynecological conditions like endometriosis and may not realize it until they struggle with infertility. We can review your medical and gynecological history and use diagnostic testing to uncover the cause.

The definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is through laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera inserted through an incision in your abdomen to identify and biopsy abnormal tissue.

What is IUI?

Intrauterine insemination is an infertility treatment that places sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation to increase chances of conception.

We often recommend IUI as a first-line approach with endometriosis because it’s less invasive and more affordable than other treatments. IUI is a good option if you have minimal fallopian tube scarring. 

What is IVF?

In vitro fertilization is a more advanced infertility treatment. During IVF, we stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieve them, fertilize them with sperm in the lab, and then transfer the developing embryo into the uterus. 

IVF has helped many women with endometriosis grow their family. Success rates vary depending on the severity of your endometriosis. 

IUI vs IVF: Choosing the right path

Infertility is a personal journey that can affect physical and emotional well-being. No single fertility treatment works for everyone. The right path for you depends on many factors, including:

• Stage and severity of endometriosis 
• Ovarian egg reserve
• Age
• Other health conditions

Cost is also a consideration when choosing a treatment. 

You don’t need to have all the answers before scheduling a consultation. The CARE Fertility team can help you understand your condition, review your options, and guide you toward a treatment plan that aligns with your goals.

If you need help getting pregnant with endometriosis, we’re here to support you. Call us today or request an appointment online. Our specialists can explain your options and answer your questions to help you move forward with confidence.