Ovarian Endometriosis at 40x Magnification

Though pain and abnormal bleeding can be a serious problem for individuals with endometriosis, many patients are most concerned about infertility related to the condition. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of women with endometriosis are infertile, and oftentimes for asymptomatic individuals, the disorder may only come to their attention when they attempt to conceive a child and are unable to do so. The specific reason why an individual with endometriosis is unable to become pregnant is not always known, though in some cases it has been linked to obstruction of the fallopian tubes. Some studies also suggest that there may be certain changes associated with the condition that take place in the uterus or in the egg that adversely affect fertility, but research is ongoing and many other factors could be at fault as well.