Fertility
Endometriosis
- Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity
- Symptoms include period pain and painful sex which can lead to difficulty conceiving
- The reason for this is because endometriotic tissue breaks down in response to the normal menstrual cycle which generates inflammation and an immune response creating an environment in which egg, sperm and embryos are not able to function normally
- The treatment for endometriosis includes laparoscopic surgery
Low egg numbers
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone is a blood test that can indicate how many eggs are in the ovaries.
- Women with low egg numbers can consider egg freezing to preserve fertility although this doesn’t guarantee a future pregnancy
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- PCOS causes irregular menstrual cycles which can make it harder to conceive
- Women with PCOS have a high number of eggs but their hormones make it difficult for the eggs to grow and be released
- Treatment includes maintaining a healthy weight, or taking tablets to help ovulation
- Some women with PCOS also have high sugar and insulin levels so treatment of these metabolic problems can improve fertility and reduce the risk of miscarriage
