There are many occasions in which since IVI we have talked to you about Endometriosis. Known as ‘silent disease’, more and more is being known about this pathology, until recently unknown. March is endometriosis month and from here we want to continue to focus on this disease.
What is endometriosis and what are its symptoms
The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus and is expelled each month with menstruation, and then a new one grows again. Endometriosis occurs when said endometrial tissue travels through the fallopian tubes, settling in unusual places – the ovaries, the pelvis or the bladder, among others.
This is why main symptoms of endometriosis are:
- Heavy, painful, or irregular periods
- Low back pain during the cycle
- Discomfort during or after sexual intercourse
- Pain when urinating or with bowel movements
- Infertility
The last symptom on the list is, surely, the most important and in many cases it is the one that serves to alert about the presence of the disease, since all the above are assumed by women who suffer from it as normal. For this reason, we must focus on these other symptoms, not assume them as something normal, the result of menstruation. These symptoms, on many occasions, are so strong that the woman who suffers them is unable to deal with the routine activities of her day to day. There are cases in which endometriosis presents asymptomatically.
The importance of an early endometriosis diagnosis
Endometriosis usually develops with the onset of menstruation and it is known that around a million women in Spain have it diagnosed. But there can be many more who suffer without knowing it. It is between the ages of 25 and 35 when this disease is usually diagnosed, since symptoms tend to be confused with those of menstruation.
In addition, although it has not been proven, it has been found greater possibilities of suffering endometriosis if there is a family history. Although there is no way to prevent this disease, in cases of women at high risk of suffering from it, treatment can be applied to delay its appearance.
Although it is true that endometriosis has no cure, an early diagnosis serves to apply treatments that help reduce the effects and control it, trying not to get worse. If endometriosis worsens, it may be difficult to conceive. Diagnosing the disease early is essential for women who want to be mothers.
At IVI we are aware of endometriosis
For everything we have told you, at IVI we are very aware of the importance of the so-called ‘silent disease’. We have a Endometriosis Unit, composed of professionals specialized in this disease. Through comprehensive care and personalized treatment programs, the goal is to achieve a better quality of life for our patients, while slowing the progression of the disease. In addition, these professionals have created an Endometriosis Guide, to help you learn about the disease, become aware of it and discover what IVI can do for you.
How Egg Preservation Can Help You If You Have Endometriosis
It is known that, of the women who suffer from endometriosis, half will suffer from infertility. In those cases, early fertility preservation is a solution for those who want to be mothers with their own eggs. It can also be of great help for endometriosis patients who have to undergo surgery that compromises fertility. In this sense, the study Number needed to freeze: cumulative live birth rate after fertility preservation in women with endometriosis, led by the Dr. Ana Cobo, Director of the Cryobiology Unit at IVI, shows that the greater the number of oocytes from the patient, the greater the chances of success. In women diagnosed with endometriosis, under 35 years of age, the success rate reaches 95%, recovering approximately 20 oocytes. On the other hand, in endometriosis patients over 35 years of age, the maximum newborn rate is close to 80%.
«This information was already known for women with elective preservation of fertility or for oncological reasons. But this information was non-existent in the cases of endometriosis patients. The doubt is even more relevant in these cases, since these women have a higher risk of premature depletion of the ovarian reserve. This research aims to help fertility specialists and endometriosis patients establish realistic expectations regarding their chances of reproductive success based on their vitrified oocytes, ”explains Dr. Cobo.
Along the same lines, Dr. Ana Cobo has already led a recent study in which better results were observed in young women who vitrified their oocytes before undergoing ovarian endometrioma removal.
‘These findings clearly indicate the beneficial effect of youth on reproductive outcomes in women with endometriosis who have preserved fertility. However, we must pay special attention to cases of women with advanced disease or who have required surgical treatment. Obtaining a maximum number of 15-20 oocytes to vitrify (probably in two cycles of stimulation) is relatively easier in young patients. There may be greater difficulty in women with compromised ovarian reserve, which may even have been aggravated if the patient has been operated on », concludes Dr. Cobo.
As you can see, we are at your side in this silent fight. We continue investigating and working so that the symptoms of this disease affect you in the least possible way in your day to day life and above all, so that they do not prevent you from fulfilling the dream of being mothers.
