Endometriosis and Pregnancy



Posted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005

by Josh Riverside

Endometriosis occurs when the uterus lining, called the endometrium, moves to another part of the body. During menstruation, this lining is shed from the uterus, the lining in other parts of the body have no way of being and bring pain and discomfort to the woman.

The endometriosis growth is caused by the menstrual cycle. Each and every month, the uterus lining gets ready for pregnancy by thickening. The woman sheds this lining by bleeding if she doesn’t become pregnant. Women suffering from endometriosis bleed due to the extra tissue developed but can’t let this blood leave the body, causing inflammation, blockage, bleeding in the intestines, and possibly scar tissue.

Women suffering from endometriosis who become pregnant should contact a doctor. One of the treatments of this disease is a hormonal treatment called danocrine. Women who use danocrine should be careful not to become pregnant as the treatment can harm the baby in the uterus. Also, babies born to women who have endometriosis are more likely to have birth defects than babies from uninfected mothers.

Pregnancy during endometriosis is possible but risky. Pregnancy can diminish the pain associated with the disease, but is likely to result in an unhealthy baby. A good alternative treatment is causing a "pseudo pregnancy" (a state resembling pregnancy) through hormonal drug regimens, which can ease the pain of endometriosis without risking any birth defects.

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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)
» left by SH from New York 6 years 61 days ago.
Where did you get data that says women w/ endo should not TTC because it is 'risky' and causes birth defects? Birth defects are NOT related to endo. Up to 75% of women with endo can conceive and have healthy babies. How dare you discourage these wome
» left by Anonymous 6 years 45 days ago.
This information is completely false. Women with endometriosis can and do become pregnant and their babies are not at risk of birth defects. Shame on you.
» left by Anonymous 5 years 344 days ago.
This article is absolutely disgusting and misinformed. I hope it is not stumbled upon by other endo sufferers like me who are pregnant and maybe not as well informed! You should be ashamed of yourself and remove this false information from the web!
» left by Janet 5 years 334 days ago.
Good to see that there are other people who find this article misinforming. I have spent hours to find anything on endometriosis and birth defects. And I have found nothing. Author needs to cite studies which back up his claims.
» left by Unanimous from United States 4 years 212 days ago.
My cousin has endometriosis and has miscarried 12 pregnancies, 2 in the 6 and 7 months, and lost 1 baby 3 hours after birth due to a heart defect, her second live birth child is currently 4 weeks and awaiting a heart transplant. I believe there may be truth to this article, there's just no research published on the internet to support it.
» left by Teresa from England 2 years 164 days ago.
STOP READING THIS ARTICLE!!!! Endometriosis and birth defects are not related. I am a nurse with endometriosis and im also pregnant. I would hate other ladies to read this and worry themselves silly.
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