Many women who live with endometriosis are in a state of flux with their reproductive health. There are some treatments that can help stop the spread of endometriosis as well as some of the symptoms, but they are not without risk.
Endometriosis has the potential to be dangerous for women who are or are not pregnant. Those who wish to become pregnant may find it difficult if their fallopian tubes have become blocked or if they have other issues related to endometrial tissue.
The good news is that there are assisted reproduction options for women who need to treat endometriosis. Even if they need to have their ovaries, uterus, cervix and other organs removed or treated hormonally, they can still start a family through other means.
Making a healthy choice for reproduction
For women who want to get pregnant with endometriosis, it may be a long road. While some women don’t have a problem getting pregnant and even find that the pregnancy helps reduce pain, others have symptoms that worsen as the uterus expands. With increased estrogen, there is also a risk of the endometriosis growing.
There are other options that may allow women to have hysterectomies or other treatments without ending their ability to have children. For example, if you have endometriosis and want to have your own child in the future, you may be able to have your eggs harvested. Then, you could use a surrogate to carry your child after it is fertilized with your partner’s, spouse’s or a donor’s sperm.
Since reproducing with the use of a surrogate can be a complex legal process, it’s a good idea to go over the surrogacy with someone who understands the contracts that are necessary. You will also need to establish legal parentage after your child’s birth, which is something that you need to do in court. This process varies from state to state based upon each state’s unique parentage laws, so you should consult an attorney licensed to practice in the state where your surrogate lives and gives birth.
Endometriosis doesn’t mean you can’t be a mother or have children of your own. There are options to consider. If you would like to look into surrogacy or other options, then you may want to learn more about the legality of these processes and how they can work for you.