Living with Endometriosis: Fertility, Pregnancy, and Sexual Discomfort

For some women and people with vaginas, menstruation can be painful, but for others, it can be a real torture and greatly affect their quality of life. This chronic pain can be caused by a disease called endometriosis, which affects 1 in 10 people with vaginas .

This disease, diagnosed on average after 7 years , is defined as the development of tissues similar to those that constitute the endometrium in/on organs other than the uterus and which undergoes the influence of hormonal changes at each menstruation. Thus, there are 3 forms of endometriosis: superficial or peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis (or endometriotic cyst, or endometrioma) and deep pelvic endometriosis. It goes without saying that endometriosis causes different symptoms and since it affects the uterus, causes gynecological problems.

Fertility, pregnancy and endometriosis.

In total, approximately 200 million women of childbearing age are affected by endometriosis and 30 to 40% of these people experience infertility problems . Indeed, endometriosis does not create a favorable environment for fertilization because it can affect all stages of reproduction such as oocyte capture disorders, gamete transport disorders, implantation disorders, etc. But infertility can also be caused by anatomical factors related to endometriosis such as tubal alterations or adnexal lesions.

When it comes to pregnancy, doctors advise their patients with endometriosis not to delay it too much. It should be noted that women with endometriosis have a 10% higher risk of miscarriage . For some, getting pregnant naturally is complicated and they must resort to medically assisted procreation.

Endometriosis and sexual pain.

Beyond extremely painful periods and infertility issues, endometriosis can also cause dyspareunia; that is, pain during penetrative sex. To date, there is no effective surgical treatment for endometriosis. However, there are tools and therapies that the affected person can use to relieve this pain and sexual discomfort. First of all, it is important to remember that it is entirely possible to have orgasms without resorting to penetration. Indeed, clitoral stimulation to orgasm is possible alone or with a partner using vibrators, lubricants and stimulating gels or other sex toys that will enhance clitoral pleasure.

How to relieve dyspareunia caused by endometriosis?

The first step towards healing is to restore the importance of non-penetrative sex in the pleasure of people with a clitoris. Sexual pleasure and orgasms are, in fact, powerful painkillers thanks to the positive hormonal charges they induce in the brain: endorphins, oxytocin and dopamine are there to help you relax and feel comfortable!

But for those who would also like to have penetration - whether with a partner with a penis or with the help of a penetrating object - there are also innovative products that help reduce or even eliminate pelvic or sexual pain during penetrative intercourse. The Ohnut is the perfect example. This set of rings allows people suffering from dyspareunia or vaginismus to limit the depth of penetration and thus relieve the person with a vagina from the pain associated with it.

Using suitable lubricants is also a good way to reduce pain because they will allow better sliding in the vagina and therefore create a feeling of letting go and have a significant psychological impact on the comfort of the person being penetrated.

Looking for endometriosis specialists?

Although many people suffering from endometriosis report that they have not always been able to be guided and understood in their pathology, the fact remains that this condition seems to be evolving towards a strong specialization.

We therefore strongly recommend that you use specialized diagnostic centers whose multidisciplinary approaches allow for better management of your symptoms. Thus, if you are looking for health professionals or even a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis in Belgium, you should know that there are - among others - two specialized institutions such as the Liégeois Endometriosis Center or the Regional Endometriosis Center within the Ambroise Paré University Hospital in Mons .

If you live in France, our research has allowed us to identify - this list is far from exhaustive - the Endometriosis Center within the Paris Saint-Joseph hospital or the ENDOALSACE expert center for people living near Strasbourg.

Looking for support?

If you need support to help you live better with your illness, we advise you to turn to associations such as Endofrance or ENDOmind who can help and support you in your healing process.