Can endometriosis affect fertility?

Many people with endometriosis don’t report having problems getting pregnant so if someone is having sex and has stopped using contraception like the pill or condoms, they may get pregnant. This is also the case if they’re using other ways to get pregnant, such as artificial insemination.

At the same time, we do know that having endometriosis can affect fertility (someone’s ability to fall pregnant). Roughly 20 to 40% of people with endometriosis report problems getting pregnant, making it one of the most common causes of infertility in the UK. For some people, infertility might be their main symptom. In fact, many people only hear about endometriosis after trying for a baby for some time without success.

Factors like a person’s age, weight and their general physical health can also affect their chances of getting pregnant whether or not they have endometriosis.

Read more about this in Endometriosis UK’s factsheet Endometriosis, Fertility and Pregnancy.