New Study Finds Higher Pregnancy Success in Women with Endometriosis-Linked Infertility

A major 30-year study from England has provided a ray of hope for millions of women living with endometriosis. According to findings presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), women whose infertility is linked to endometriosis are significantly more likely to become pregnant compared to women facing infertility from other causes.

Endometriosis is a painful and often misunderstood condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, frequently leading to pelvic pain, inflammation, and infertility. It affects an estimated 190 million women worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of infertility.

The study, part of the EU FEMaLe (Finding Endometriosis through Machine Learning) initiative, was led by Dr. Lucky Saraswat from the Aberdeen Centre of Women’s Health Research in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. It examined health records of over 4 million women aged 13–50 years in England from 1991 to 2020. The research team analyzed fertility trends, endometriosis diagnoses, and pregnancy outcomes using primary care, hospital, and maternity data.

Of the women studied, 245,994 reported infertility, and 111,197 had surgically confirmed endometriosis. Among those facing infertility, 6.1% had endometriosis, and more than half of them experienced infertility before receiving a diagnosis. This highlights the common delay in recognizing and diagnosing the condition.

The study found a strong link between infertility and endometriosis, with infertile women more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with the condition compared to fertile women. However, the most encouraging result was that women with endometriosis-related infertility were four times more likely to conceive than those with infertility due to other causes like ovulatory disorders or unexplained infertility.

In total, 40.5% of women with endometriosis achieved at least one pregnancy during the study period, regardless of infertility status. These results suggest that while endometriosis poses challenges, it may not be as severe a barrier to pregnancy as once feared—especially when diagnosed and managed in time.

Dr. Saraswat explained that women with mild endometriosis may still retain strong reproductive potential. She noted that laparoscopic surgery has shown moderate success in improving fertility outcomes in certain cases. She also emphasized that many women with endometriosis are proactive in seeking fertility support, often because of greater awareness around the condition.

“These findings can change how we counsel women newly diagnosed with endometriosis,” Dr. Saraswat said. “They offer reassurance and help women make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.”

The study also opens the door for further research into how disease stage, surgical treatment, and assisted reproductive techniques affect fertility in women with endometriosis. With growing awareness and stronger data, healthcare professionals can better support women on their fertility journeys.