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This review examines how endometriosis affects female fertility, finding that up to 50% of women with the condition experience infertility due to disrupted implantation, altered hormones, and compromised oocytes.
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by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-16
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This paper is a literature review examining how endometriosis affects female fertility, drawing on clinical trials with control groups (196 to 22,416 reproductive-age participants aged 25–42) and case studies published over the past 37 years from multiple regions, using databases including BMJ, NEJM, Elsevier, AJR, Medline, and PubMed. It reports evidence that endometriosis may impair fertility through mechanisms such as disrupted embryo implantation, altered hormone levels, and compromised oocyte quality, and synthesizes findings from studies of fertile and infertile women, animal research, donor sperm approaches, and IVF outcomes. The review’s major caveat is that despite extensive investigation, the authors describe no clear consensus on treatment options and state that clinical management for endometriosis-related infertility has not shown conclusive success beyond IVF. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses specifically on how endometriosis impacts fertility and infertility mechanisms.
Abstract
Endometriosis is defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus, frequently located on pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and occasionally beyond the pelvic region. This condition manifests as dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and subfertility. Despite extensive research, the etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis remain unclear, with laparoscopy being the definitive diagnostic method. The association between endometriosis and infertility has been extensively debated. Endometriosis can impair fertility by disrupting embryo implantation, altering hormone levels, and compromising oocyte quality. This literature review aims to examine the effects of endometriosis on female fertility. The review encompasses documents from clinical trials with control groups involving 196 to 22,416 reproductive-age participants (25-42 years), and case studies published over the past thirty-seven years from various regions (USA, Australia, Turkey, Africa, and Europe. Reputable databases such as BMJ, NEJM, Elsevier, AJR, Medline, and PubMed were utilized, with references compiled in the bibliography. A risk-benefit analysis indicates that up to 50% of women with endometriosis experience infertility. Consensus on treatment options remains elusive. The relationship between endometriosis and infertility is supported by studies of both fertile and infertile women, animal studies, donor sperm studies, and in vitro fertilization outcomes. Diagnostic methodologies based on endometrial changes are providing insights into potential mechanisms of infertility, especially in women with milder disease. However, clinical management of endometriosis-related infertility has not shown conclusive success beyond in vitro fertilization.
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Published July 30, 2024
| Version v1
Journal article
Open
The effect of endometriosis on the fertility of women
Authors/Creators
- 1. Diagnostic Radiology Department, Daugavpils Regional Hospital, Latvia.
Description
Endometriosis is defined by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus, frequently located on pelvic organs such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and occasionally beyond the pelvic region. This condition manifests as dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and subfertility. Despite extensive research, the etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis remain unclear, with laparoscopy being the definitive diagnostic method.
The association between endometriosis and infertility has been extensively debated. Endometriosis can impair fertility by disrupting embryo implantation, altering hormone levels, and compromising oocyte quality. This literature review aims to examine the effects of endometriosis on female fertility.
The review encompasses documents from clinical trials with control groups involving 196 to 22,416 reproductive-age participants (25-42 years), and case studies published over the past thirty-seven years from various regions (USA, Australia, Turkey, Africa, and Europe. Reputable databases such as BMJ, NEJM, Elsevier, AJR, Medline, and PubMed were utilized, with references compiled in the bibliography.
A risk-benefit analysis indicates that up to 50% of women with endometriosis experience infertility. Consensus on treatment options remains elusive. The relationship between endometriosis and infertility is supported by studies of both fertile and infertile women, animal studies, donor sperm studies, and in vitro fertilization outcomes. Diagnostic methodologies based on endometrial changes are providing insights into potential mechanisms of infertility, especially in women with milder disease. However, clinical management of endometriosis-related infertility has not shown conclusive success beyond in vitro fertilization.
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