Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can compromise fertility and significantly impair a woman’s quality of life. It is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 10 women, yet it remains an underdiagnosed disease. 14 March, World Endometriosis Day, reminds us of the importance of raising awareness of a condition that has been downplayed or misunderstood for years.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus, usually in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, other areas of the pelvis, etc. This tissue responds to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, causing inflammation, pain and, in some cases, adhesions between organs. If you would like to know more about what endometriosis is, how it is diagnosed and what options are available when it affects fertility, you can find more information in our article on endometriosis and fertility.
Endometriosis and fertility
It is estimated that between 30% and 50% of women with endometriosis have difficulty becoming pregnant. The disease can affect fertility in several ways:
- Altering pelvic anatomy through adhesions
- Causing chronic inflammation in the pelvis
- Affecting egg quality
- Interfering with embryo implantation
Many patients discover they have endometriosis precisely when they begin trying to conceive. In these cases, assisted reproduction treatments can become an essential tool for achieving pregnancy. In cases of severe endometriosis, treatment success rates may be lower than in patients without the disease, reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and designing personalised strategies for each case.
The problem of late diagnosis
One of the major challenges of endometriosis continues to be the delay in diagnosis. Currently, the average time to receive a diagnosis can be around seven years. Seven years of pain, uncertainty, and in many cases, progressive deterioration of reproductive function. During that time, many women hear phrases such as:
- ‘It’s normal for periods to hurt.’
- ‘It will go away after pregnancy.’
- ‘It’s a matter of pain tolerance.’
- ‘That’s just how it is.’
These types of messages contribute to normalising pain and delaying the search for specialised medical help.
Advances in the treatment of endometriosis
Fortunately, scientific research continues to advance and opens up new avenues of hope for women living with this disease. Among these are:
- new treatments for pain management
- antioxidant therapies
- personalised regenerative medicine
- development of faster diagnostic tests
These advances open up new possibilities for improving disease management and preserving fertility.
The importance of raising awareness about endometriosis
Beyond medical advances, one of the biggest challenges remains raising awareness. Periods should not be so painful that they incapacitate you. It is essential to improve gynaecological health education, promote early diagnosis and continue investing in research to offer increasingly effective treatments. Raising awareness of endometriosis is the first step towards ending its silence. At URE Centro Gutenberg, we accompany many women with endometriosis on their journey to motherhood, offering a personalised approach for each case. If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis and wish to become a mother, you can request a free initial specialist assessment, where we will study your case and explain the options available to you.
