Although endometriosis and infertility are clearly linked—in life as well as the medical literature—no causal relationship has been established. Nevertheless, data suggest that 25% to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and that as many as 30% to 50% of women who have endometriosis are infertile.1
Among the mechanisms that have been proposed to explain this link are:
- distorted pelvic anatomy
- endocrine and ovulatory abnormalities
- impaired implantation
- impaired quality of the oocyte and embryo
- altered peritoneal function
- altered hormonal and cell-mediated function
- abnormal uterotubal transport.2
Recent studies by Kao and colleagues and Giudice and colleagues have led to new findings in regard to endometriosis and infertility, says Ceana Nezhat, MD.3,4 Dr. Nezhat is Director of the Nezhat Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and Medical Director of Training and Education at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. “These researchers have discovered that endometriosis causes changes to the endometrium that contribute to infertility.”
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