Endometriosis: time to get women talking

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus that thickens throughout the menstrual cycle in preparation for implantation of a fertilised egg. For those with endometriosis, this lining grows outside of the uterus, most commonly in the ovaries and around the fallopian tubes.

Laura Roberts was diagnosed with severe endometriosis in 2008.

She says: “I’d always had painful periods, but the pain worsened so I decided to go to the doctors. I was referred for a laparoscopy and this showed I had severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts.”

Endometriosis can affect fertility and after unsuccessfully trying to conceive Laura and her husband Damion were referred for NHS fertility treatment at Bourn Hall Clinic Cambridge.

After meeting with Dr Thomas Mathews, UK Medical Director at Bourn Hall, Laura began treatment.

Dr Mathews says: “Endometriosis can reduce fertility but the cause is not fully understood. One of the treatments that is often recommended is to drain or ablate the cysts.  These dark brown or ‘chocolate’ cysts, as they are called, form because the blood produced during menstruation is unable to escape.

“Ironically pregnancy can reduce the problem.  The progesterone produced seems to ‘burn off’ the lining and patients often say they have less pain after the baby is born.”

Laura underwent egg collection in July 2011 and five of these eggs successfully fertilised, however only one embryo was sufficiently developed to be transferred into Laura’s womb. Unfortunately, a week and a half after implantation Laura experienced a heavy bleed.

“We thought it hadn’t worked. We rang Bourn Hall Clinic and they reassured us that I could still be pregnant. They advised us to take a pregnancy test in another week.”

Laura took a pregnancy test a week later which showed a faint positive result. Once again, the couple were advised to wait before repeating the test.

“Thankfully after all that I found I really was pregnant with Barney.”

Barney was born happy and healthy by Caesarean section on the 29^th March 2012.

“Being a mum is absolutely fantastic. We feel like the luckiest couple in the world.”

One of the common symptoms of endometriosis is severe period pains, something which many women learn to ‘accept’ or ‘just get on with’. Endometriosis UK wants to encourage more women and teenagers to break the taboo and talk about their periods, so this condition can be diagnosed and treated sooner.

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