Generally, in the last months of pregnancy and during lactation, endometriosis tends to recede, relieving abdominal pain; however, endometriosis may recur after childbirth and some women may even experience worsening symptoms, especially during the first three months of pregnancy.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that coats the uterus, called the endometrium, develops in other parts of the abdomen, such as the ovaries, bladder or intestine, causing symptoms such as severe pelvic pain, very abundant periods and, in some cases, infertility.
- Pregnancy generally improves the symptoms of endometriosis during the last months of pregnancy; however.
- Some women may experience a worsening of symptoms.
- Especially in the first few months.
It is not clear what is causing this improvement, but it is thought that the beneficial effects are due to the high levels of progesterone produced during pregnancy, which contributes to the reduction of the growth and development of endometriosis lesions, making them less active. The 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 symptoms of endometriosis may recur after pregnancy; However, during lactation, symptoms may also decrease as they inhibit the release of estrogen.suppressing ovulation and the growth and development of endometriosis.
On the other hand, worsening symptoms in the first few months may be due to rapid growth of the uterus, which can lead to hardening tissue damage, or high estrogen levels, which can also worsen symptoms.
In some cases, endometriosis can make pregnancy difficult, especially when endometrial tissue attaches to the tubes and prevents the passage of the mature egg to the uterus, preventing conception; however, there are reports of several women who managed to conceive naturally even if they had endometriosis, as their ovaries and tubes were not affected by the disease and their fertility was preserved.
However, some women suffering from endometriosis need to stimulate ovulation with treatments to get pregnant.
In women who are already pregnant, in some cases, endometriosis can lead to a risky pregnancy, whether deep or severe, in this case the woman may be at risk of:
Due to the severe and unexpected complications of the disease, it is recommended to treat deep, moderate or severe endometriosis before trying to conceive.
If a woman is diagnosed with endometriosis during pregnancy, it is recommended that the obstetrician pay special attention and perform specific gynecological examinations to prevent complications. See what tests are used for endometriosis.
Treatment of endometriosis during pregnancy is not necessary and surgery is only indicated if there is a risk of death for the mother or baby.For many doctors, any other situation should wait until the baby is born for treatment.