Endometriosis and Infertility: Essential Facts and Concerns

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition characterized by endometrial tissue growth outside the uterus. The blood that comes from that tissue doesn’t have anywhere to go, which is why it usually develops into cysts, adhesions, or scar tissues.

Endometriosis is accompanied by sharp, stabbing pain, especially during periods. Fortunately, many endometriosis treatments are available. However, many women with this condition tend to ask, can you get pregnant with endometriosis?

According to science-based research, 30 to 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile. However, thanks to the significant healthcare development, including conventional (Western medicine) and alternative approaches (acupuncture , functional medicine and herbs), it is possible to get the best treatments and enhance the chances of starting a family healthily and naturally.

This article will explain the relationship between infertility and endometriosis, including the most efficient natural and drug-free treatment options worth trying.

Makari Wellness: The Most Advanced Natural Endometriosis and Infertility Symptoms Treatment

Makari Wellness is a leading acupuncture clinic in San Diego that has been successfully treating the symptoms of gynecological and fertility-related problems for years. We combine the best conventional and alternative treatments to deliver excellent and long-term results to our patients.

We holistic TCM approaches such as acupuncture, herbal therapies, and vital lifestyle and diet modifications to address various conditions with the highest success rate.

Book your appointment at (888) 871-8889 and start your endometriosis and infertility symptoms treatment today.

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Endometriosis Overview

You may be diagnosed with endometriosis when the tissue similar to the uterine lining (endometrium) is growing outside of the womb. It is characterized by pelvic pain, which increases during menstrual cycles.

Endometriosis often causes inflammation in the area, which may result in pain, form scar tissue, or even stick some organs together. It can occur during a woman’s first period, and it can last even beyond menopause.

The most common endometriosis symptoms include:

Painful intercourse
Pain with ovulation
Fatigue
Painful menstrual cramps
Frequent urination
Low back pain
Pain during bowel movements
Diarrhea or constipation.

Besides pain, endometriosis can cause an array of complications, including infertility.

Can Endometriosis Cause Infertility?

In essence, yes – endometriosis can cause infertility. Although it is not always the case, many women with this issue may experience difficulties when trying to get pregnant. Endometriosis affects fertility in many ways, including:

Distorted anatomy of the pelvis
Adhesions
Scarred fallopian tubes
Pelvic structure inflammation
Altered immune system function
Changes in the eggs’ hormonal environment
Impaired implantation of a pregnancy
Altered egg quality.

The chances of getting pregnant depend on the endometriosis stage you have developed. Endometriosis stages can be observed as minimal (stage 1), mild (stage 2), moderate (stage 3), or severe (stage 4). Women with the severe stage experience significant difficulties when trying to conceive since their condition provokes scarring, blocked fallopian tubes, and even damaged ovaries. This endometriosis phase often required a more advanced fertility treatment.

Women with early stages of endometriosis have more chances of getting pregnant without experiencing any difficulties. In fact, pregnancy can alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis, primarily due to the lack of period. Many women with this issue claim that they felt no endometriosis-related pain or other signs during pregnancy, while others noticed that their symptoms worsened during that time.

However, pregnancy cannot cure endometriosis. The improvements are temporary, and the symptoms often return after childbirth.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE BENEFITS:

Endometriosis and Infertility Treatment

There are many treatment options to address your endometriosis. The right treatment for your issue will depend mostly on your goals, such as improving the chances for fertility and getting pregnant. Since not all the treatments are convenient for women trying to conceive, it is vital to talk to your practitioner and tell them what you’re trying to accomplish. The most common treatments for reducing endometriosis symptoms include:

Painkillers: Both prescriptions and over-the-counter analgesics help reduce endometriosis-related symptoms. Still, practitioners may recommend you stop taking them if you’re trying to get pregnant.
Hormonal therapies: Medications containing synthetic estrogen, progestin, and other essential hormones can be quite suitable for managing endometriosis signs. On the other hand, they may not be ideal for women who want to conceive or are already pregnant.
Surgery: Laparoscopy and laparotomy aim to remove endometrial lesions while leaving healthy tissue intact. These surgeries improve the chances of getting pregnant, but success is not guaranteed.
Infertility treatments: Adequate infertility treatments can help a woman get pregnant. Apart from in vitro fertilization (IVF), acupuncture and herbal therapies have provided excellent results in treating infertility.
Hysterectomy: This procedure includes removing the uterus, and it may be suitable for women who don’t wish to get pregnant. Hysterectomy may reduce the endometriosis symptoms, but it is not a definite cure for this issue. Some symptoms may return after the surgery.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Endometriosis and Fertility Issues

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), based on a holistic approach and the patients’ overall health, has been widely used for acute and chronic conditions management. Its principal goal consists of bringing your system back to balance and improving its primary functions.

TCM is incredibly efficient in treating digestive problems, fatigue, menstrual issues, emotional imbalances, and other complex health conditions that Western medicine doesn’t always treat with success.

According to TCM, endometriosis and similar gynecological conditions result from certain imbalances in the body that cannot be cured with surgeries or pharmaceuticals. Even if a surgeon makes an incision, he/she won’t promote the natural healing ability, which plays a vital role in the body’s overall function.

TCM offers many safe, efficient, and drug-free treatments for addressing endometriosis-related infertility. The most popular approaches include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and proper nutrition, which improves virtually any aspect of a woman’s life.

Acupuncture for Endometriosis and Infertility

An entire acupuncture theory is based upon the concept of qi flow, which refers to energy, life force, or function. Any imbalance in qi may provoke health issues, leading to chronic conditions that require more advanced treatment approaches.

The core benefit of acupuncture is its drug-free concept, which makes it safer, less risky, and less expensive than conventional medical treatments. A licensed acupuncture practitioner will start with identifying your unique symptoms and potential underlying conditions that might have caused them. That way, you can get the best and the most personalized treatment plan suitable for your condition and general health. The most common TCM imbalances closely related to endometriosis include:

Blood stasis
Qi stagnation
Spleen qi deficiency
Kidney yang deficiency
Damp heat stagnation and stasis.

Acupuncture can address all these inconveniences with success. This unique approach involves using small, fine, and stainless steel needles to stimulate specific points (acupoints) on different parts of the patient’s body. By focusing on these areas, acupuncture promotes blood flow, energy release, and the retrieval of the lost balance responsible for the existing issues.

Acupuncture for endometriosis can help alleviate the endometriosis-related abdominal and low back pain, and any discomfort you feel during menstrual cycles. Since it promotes blood circulation and hormone balance, acupuncture provides an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces inflammation caused by endometriosis, increasing your chances to conceive without problems.

How Does Acupuncture Improve Fertility?

Fertility acupuncture has positive effects on the ovaries, encouraging ovulation and blood flow in the pelvic area. That way, it enhances the blood supply to the reproductive organs, improves the uterine lining (endometrium) quality, and nourishes the developing follicle. Its impact on the reproductive system ensures the eggs are better nourished, improving the chances of getting pregnant.

Acupuncture significantly reduces stress levels and lowers stress-related hormones that may affect the chances of conceiving. Apart from helping you conceive naturally, acupuncture has provided remarkable results in improving pregnancy rates in women who undergo IVF.

We at Makari Wellness recommend particular herbal therapies you should take alongside acupuncture treatments to get better and more viable results.

Chinese Herbs for Infertility and Endometriosis

Chinese herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years to help cure different physical and mental disorders. It is quite a convenient option since it’s safe, drug-free, and generally free of side-effects. A licensed Chinese herbalist focuses on strengthening the base of one’s health, which is why it is way herbal formulae are more efficient than conventional methods.

Herbs can be used in different combinations, depending on what you want to accomplish. The following ones are the most commonly used herbs for treating endometriosis:

Turmeric: Thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory effects, turmeric can decrease endometrial tissue growth and lower estrogen levels.
Chamomile: It has antispasmodic properties, which help in pain reduction.
Ashwagandha: A regular ashwagandha intake can lower stress and cortisol levels, which are high in women with endometriosis.
Peppermint: Anti-inflammatory characteristics of peppermint reduce pelvic pain and severity of menstrual cramps.
Lavender: It is efficient in pain management, especially during periods.

Apart from treating endometriosis with success, herbal therapies are incredibly efficient in addressing infertility. A recommended herbal formula may consist of the following ingredients:

Vitex: This herb strengthens ovulation and encourages the production of progesterone, enhancing the chances of conceiving.
Maca: It is beneficial for both men and women, especially since it helps the body cope with stress. Still, maca is not suitable for women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Cinnamon: Chinese medicine considers cinnamon highly efficient in treating fertility problems. It nourishes yang energy, improves sperm quality, and promotes its production.
Tribulus Terrestris: According to TCM, this herb is excellent for male and female fertility. This is the main reason why herbalists tend to use it in almost every formula for infertility.

You can increase your chances of getting pregnant with endometriosis by improving your lifestyle habits and eating whole foods rich in essential nutrients, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition plays a significant role in our health, and we shouldn’t exclude it from our regular treatments for endometriosis and infertility.