Endometriosis

One of the most common causes of infertility is endometriosis. About 10–15% of women suffer from this condition. The main symptom is very severe pain before and during the period.

How it develops

In endometriosis, there are deposits of endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus) outside the uterine cavity, e.g. on the ovaries and fallopian tubes, on the bladder and on other organs in the pelvis. These ectopic deposits go through all the hormonal changes of the normal endometrium inside the uterine cavity: in the first half of the cycle, the endometrial cells multiply.
In the second half, under the influence of progesterone, they shrink and are shed with the period. But because the ectopic deposits cannot “drain” outwards through the fallopian tube, cysts filled with endometrial cells form, which are called chocolate cysts. These cysts in turn cause adhesions, especially on the fallopian tubes, and in this way the ability of the tubes to pick up the egg is significantly reduced.

Treatment options

Medication and laparoscopic removal.

Also read about in vitro fertilisation (IVF).