Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar ͏to the uterus lining develops outside the uterus. In vitro fertilization͏ (IVF) may allow women diagnosed with this condition t͏o͏ maintain a healthy pregnancy. Endometriosis͏ may still ͏affect ͏IVF͏ success and cause ͏your chances of͏ a healthy pregnancy ͏to decrease. Here ͏are some o͏f the causes of IVF failure͏ in͏ women with endometriosis:
Reduced Ovarian͏ Response
͏Your͏ ovaries release a mature egg during ovulation in a͏ normal pregnancy cycle. These eg͏gs are ͏the genetic material your body needs to create͏ an embryo. The hormonal signals produced during͏ this cycle prompt your body to develop enough eggs to increase͏ conception success. The ͏IVF treatment includes therapies that help ͏the woman’s ovaries release more eggs and ͏enhance the chances ͏of ͏conception.
͏Endometriosis͏ blocks͏ this normal ovarian response by forming scar tissue around the ovaries. This condition creates cysts͏, referred to as endometriomas, that interfere with the normal functioning of the ovary͏. This leads to IV͏F failure͏ as ͏it reduces the number of follicles that might respond to the͏ hormonal stimulation done in ͏IVF. Endometriosis results in ͏fewer eggs available ͏for ͏fertilization.
Lower Ovum Quality
The quality of eggs͏ released during ovulation determines the possibility of ͏a healthy conception and pregnancy. Mature and healthy͏ eggs, also called ova, contain the correct number ͏of chromosomes and internal organization͏ to͏ be fertilized and then͏ develop into͏ embryos. The IVF clinic collects͏ these eggs, fertilizes them with sperm, and develops ͏good-quality embryos to implant in the uterus.
Endometriosis impairs the quality of your͏ ova by creating a hostile environment in͏ the ͏reproductive system. Endometriomas can damage the͏ ovaries and eggs. Endometriosis also causes͏ oxidative stress that destroys an ovum’s deoxyribonucleic ͏acid (DNA)͏ and makes it less viable for fertilization.͏ Even if the ovaries release adequate eggs, their͏ quality may be poor,͏ and they may fail to fertilize or form embryos. The embryo may have developmental issues after fertilization and need a clinic’s intervention to mature properly.
Failed Embryo Implantation
An embryo implants itself͏ onto the uterus wall in a ͏healthy reproductive system. Your body releases ͏more ͏progesterone before pregnancy, which causes the endometrium to thicken͏ and become more receptive to an embryo. The clinic might provide supplemental progesterone during the͏ IVF procedure to increase the chances of implantation͏. Endometriosis causes͏ progesterone resistance in the͏ uterus lining and other ͏organs in the reproductive system. ͏This decreases the͏ level of͏ sensitivity of the progesterone receptors ͏or͏ ͏the pathways through which the ͏body processes the hormone’s signals.
Progesterone resistance impacts the ͏endometrium’s health. Implantation is a ͏delicate process and depends on the right ͏level of hormones and ͏a well-prepared endometrium. ͏Endometriosis interferes with the process of implantation due to scar tissue, even if the embryo ͏develops normally ͏outside the womb. Endometriomas reduce ͏the uterus lining’s͏ ability to support implantation or provide nutrition to the embryo.
Inflammation ͏Issues
͏A strong immune system reduces infections that affect the embryo’s healthy development. The immune ͏system maintains the health of͏ organs such as the ͏ovaries, fallopian ͏tubes, and ͏the uterus. Endometriosis ͏inflames these tissues due to an autoimmune response in which͏ the body attacks endometrial͏ tissue. This ͏results from the overproduction of immune hormones and cells like cytokines and͏ immune ͏cells. Overproducing ͏cytokines during ͏or before a͏ pregnancy makes the endometrial lining͏ less favorable for embryo development.
Resolve Issues That Lead to IVF Failure Today
A clinic helps you ͏overcome the challenges caused ͏by endometriosis to increase ͏the success rate of your pregnancy.͏ Ask the clinic what therapies͏ they ͏offer͏ ͏and work ͏with a fertility ͏expert to ͏manage the effects of endometriosis͏ during your term. Find a clinic specializing in this condition͏ today to͏ start your treatment plan͏.