If you know anybody with endometriosis you may know that it can cause unpleasant cramping during their menstrual cycle. In reality, some girls are fully incapacitated by this discomfort. But what is endometriosis and why do we care?

Endometriosis is when the endometrial lining from the uterus is found growing somewhere else in the body. Often it’s found growing on the ovaries or elsewhere in the abdomen and the discomfort that women feel is because these cells are doing their job every month by shedding together with the endometrial lining in the uterus. Fantastic how those crazy cells know their job even when they are in the wrong place!

The other reason we care about endometriosis is that it’s a common finding with women who are sterile. It’s thought that 5-10% of women could have endometriosis, but it’s's thought that 20% of women who are unable to conceive have endometriosis.

So how do you know if you have endometriosis – or endo? Some girls might suspect they have endo due to intense cramping during their menstrual cycle. But there are other symptoms, too. Some women don’t have any cramping during their cycle . Some girls have lumbar region pain. Some women could have discomfort during intercourse. Some women could have discomfort during bowel movements or urinating. Are you seeing a trend? Naturally, the flip side of the coin is that you might not have any symptoms.

I speak from experience here. I had none of the classic indications of endo except that I was not ready to fall pregnant. How is endo diagnosed? A laparoscopy is the sole way to truly diagnose endo because it doesn’t show up on any test. A lap is done under general anesthesia with a scope put in thru a little incision under your navel. Another incision is formed at your bikini line which permits the doctor to employ a tool to move things around if need be. Once the scope is on the doctor can have a look around and if the endo or other scaring is present they can remove it.

Endo is ‘scored’ in stages from 1-4 based primarily on the location and a complicated point system. Just so you know, when you wake up in recovery and your physician gives you this number it won’t translate to how much agony you have been in. It will just give you an idea of how broad the endometriosis was in your system. That is’s all.

What you’ll actually need to chat to with your doctor is the way in which the removal of the endo will affect your fertility. Many women find the next 3 to 4 cycles after they have recovered are their most comfortable and their doctor may need to milk the removal of the endo and push ahead. Continuing with interuterine insemination ( IUI ) is an excellent idea or even heading off to in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) – just depending on what you are most comfortable with – because even though the endo has been removed there’s no way to really know how endo has effects on fertility. Doctors all have good guesses but there is not any answer yet. One answer is there though – now that the endo is removed you will feel better and now you know one of the likely reasons you weren’t ready to get pregnant on your own.

So, let your health practitioner give you good counsel. Discover what you can about endometriosis because it is feasible to Conquer sterility.

Alana Reyer is an infertility expert. For more great information on acupuncture and infertility, visit http://www.infertilityhelp-alana.com/.