Endometriosis and planning a baby
Pregnancy doesn't cure endometriosis, hormone treatments don't help fertility, and the assessment involves you both: key points for talking about it early.
Endometriosis and planning a baby
You have endometriosis, or suspect you might, and you're thinking about having a baby. Between myths and worries, it isn't always easy to see clearly. Here's what the French (HAS and CNGOF) and European (ESHRE) guidelines say, so you can approach your plans with accurate information and talk about them early with the right people.
Pregnancy doesn't cure endometriosis
You still hear it: "Have a baby, it'll get better." The European ESHRE guideline (2022) is clear: patients should not be advised to become pregnant just to treat endometriosis, because pregnancy doesn't always improve symptoms or slow the disease. According to the Assurance Maladie (France's national health insurance), symptoms may get worse at the start of pregnancy, then ease.
Your plans for a baby are yours. They don't have to be a treatment, and nobody should present them to you as one.
Endometriosis and fertility
Endometriosis can, in some cases, reduce fertility. According to the Assurance Maladie, around 30 to 40% of affected women experience infertility: which also means that most don't. Another important point: how intense your pain is has no direct link with fertility problems. Severe pain doesn't mean your plans are compromised, and mild pain doesn't allow any conclusion either.
No hormone treatment to "boost" fertility
Hormone treatments have their place in relieving pain when there are no plans for pregnancy. However, they're not recommended to improve fertility. The HAS and CNGOF (2017) state this with the highest level of evidence: so-called anti-gonadotropic hormone treatment does not increase pregnancy rates, and it isn't recommended to prescribe it for that purpose, including after surgery. ESHRE says the same.
When your plans become clearer, talk to your doctor so you can decide together what happens with your treatment. Don't stop or change anything on your own.
An assessment for you both
The HAS and CNGOF recommend an overall approach that takes your pain into account along with an assessment of the couple: ovarian reserve, the state of the fallopian tubes and the partner's sperm parameters. Ideally, this happens within multidisciplinary teams that also include psychologists.
ESHRE also recommends taking the partner's semen analysis into account when choosing a strategy. According to the Assurance Maladie, a full fertility assessment can be offered and, if needed, assisted reproduction: insemination for some forms, IVF for more complex situations. If surgery for an ovarian endometrioma is being considered, the HAS and CNGOF ask that fertility preservation options be discussed with you.
Talk about it early
The Assurance Maladie advises planning a preconception appointment, to talk about your difficulties and worries related to the condition and your wish to have a baby. It also lists endometriosis among the situations where it's better to seek advice earlier than the usual 12 months of trying (or 6 months over 35). For women over 30 without children, it mentions a hormone test (AMH) and the option of freezing your eggs.
You don't have to wait for things to get complicated before raising it. Talking about it early gives you time and options.
During pregnancy
A pregnancy with endometriosis calls for slightly closer monitoring, the Assurance Maladie notes. ESHRE also asks doctors to be aware of a possibly higher risk of first-trimester miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. It's not a reason to worry in advance: it's a reason to be well looked after, and not to hesitate to call if something feels unusual.
What Lovae can offer you
Logging your pain, periods and symptoms in Lovae gives you an accurate history to show your doctor. At appointments, these notes help you describe what you're going through without having to piece it all together from memory.
This article is for information only. Lovae is not a medical device and does not replace medical advice. For any decision about your treatment or your plans, ask your doctor, gynaecologist or midwife.
Sources
- Human Reproduction Open · ESHRE guideline: endometriosis (Becker et al., 2022)
- HAS and CNGOF · Management of endometriosis, clinical practice guidelines (in French) (2017)
- Ameli · Wanting a baby with endometriosis (in French)
- Ameli · Medical fertility assessment (in French)
Official sources, accessed in September 2026.