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Endometriosis in pregnancy is a situation that can directly interfere with the development of pregnancy, especially when it is diagnosed by the doctor that it is a profound endometriosis. Thus, it is important that pregnant women who have endometriosis are regularly monitored by the doctor to prevent complications. Some of the riches of endometriosis in pregnancy are:
- Increased likelihood of abortion;
- Premature birth;
- Increased risk of rupture of the veins that irrigate the uterus;
- Possibility of complications related to the placenta;
- Higher risk of eclampsia;
- Need a cesarean;
- Increased chance of ectopic pregnancy, which is when pregnancy happens outside the womb.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus, called the endometrium, grows elsewhere in the abdomen, such as the ovaries, bladder or intestine, generating symptoms such as intense pelvic pain, very heavy menstruation and, in some cases, infertility. Learn more about endometriosis.
What to do
It is important that the woman is monitored regularly by the doctor, as it is possible for the doctor to check for risks and, thus, can indicate the best treatment. In most cases, no specific treatment is necessary, with symptoms improving, in some cases, at the end of pregnancy. Endometriosis surgery is only indicated when there is a risk of death for the mother or baby.
Although some cases the woman improves her symptoms during pregnancy, others may experience a worsening of the symptoms particularly during the first months.
Improvement of symptoms
It is not known for sure what causes this improvement, but it is believed that the beneficial effects are due to the high levels of progesterone that are produced during pregnancy, which contributes to the reduction of the growth and development of the endometriosis lesions, making them less active. The beneficial effects can also be related to the absence of menstruation during the gestation period.
For women who experience improvements in endometriosis during pregnancy, it is good to know that these beneficial effects are only temporary, and that the symptoms of endometriosis may return after pregnancy. However, during breastfeeding, symptoms may also decrease, as it inhibits the release of estrogen by the ovaries, thus suppressing ovulation and the growth and development of endometriosis.
Worsening of symptoms
On the other hand, the worsening of symptoms in the first months may be due to the rapid growth of the uterus, which can cause the tissue lesions to tighten, or to high levels of estrogen, which can also worsen the symptoms.
Does endometriosis make pregnancy difficult?
In some cases, endometriosis can make pregnancy difficult, especially when the endometrial tissue binds to the tubes and prevents the passage of the mature egg into the uterus, preventing conception. However, there are reports of several women who managed to conceive naturally even though they had endometriosis, as their ovaries and tubes were not affected by the disease and their fertility was preserved.
However, some women who suffer from endometriosis need to stimulate ovulation with treatments in order to get pregnant. See more information about becoming pregnant with endometriosis.