Sometimes, the hardest part of treating a disease is identifying it. This often is the case with endometriosis, which affects one out of 10 women during reproductive years.
As founder and medical director of New Hope Fertility Center in New York City, Dr. John Zhang is a leading authority on natural and minimally invasive in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Here’s what you need to know:
- What: Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside of the uterus, inducing chronic inflammation that may result in scar tissue.
- At risk: Women during their reproductive years; it affects approximately 176 million women worldwide, and can begin as early as a girl’s first period and may not end with menopause.
- Symptoms: Pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower back, or vagina; abnormal or painful menstruation; constipation or nausea; abdominal cramping; infertility.
While there is no cure for endometriosis, the infertility it often causes is treatable. Mini-IVF, or minimal stimulation IVF protocol, frequently is successful with patients suffering endometriosis.