New Clues to How Endometriosis Affects Fertility

A report from a recent study suggests that endometriosis may cause changes in the body that reduce the effectiveness of structures that help the egg meet up with the sperm. Endometriosis, a painful condition, occurs when tissue that lines the uterus, the endometrium, exists in the ovaries, in the fallopian tubes and in the pelvic region. It was found that peritoneal fluid from the woman’s abdomen with endometriosis may contain some substances that influence the movements of the cilia, whose job it is to coax an egg down the fallopian tubes. Both Dr. Kettel and Dr. Hummel treat endometriosis together with IVF treatment and hope that once these substances are identified, antibodies may be used to target the substances to boost a woman’s fertility.