Surrogacy, Egg Donation, and Endometriosis: Knowing Your Options

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, know that you are not alone. It’s estimated that

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, know that you are not alone. It’s estimated that about 1 in 10 women suffers from this condition and that an overwhelming majority also face infertility issues. If you are among these women and are hoping to conceive, you and your partner may be considering assisted reproduction. However, because endometriosis affects every woman’s body and fertility differently, fertility treatments can vary among patients.

Using a Surrogate

Endometriosis is a condition in which the uterine lining, known as the endometrium, grows beyond the uterus and onto other organs within the pelvic region. As this tissue grows, it causes inflammation and leaves behind adhesions and scar tissue that can make the womb an inhospitable environment for an embryo to attach and develop. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend using a surrogate to carry your child to term.

When using a surrogate, an embryo is created by using your eggs or a donor’s and fertilizing them with your partner’s or a donor’s sperm. The ensuing embryo is then implanted into the surrogate’s uterus. If successful, the surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and gives birth to the baby.

Using a Donor Egg

Depending on the severity of the condition, endometrial tissue can also grow onto the ovaries and can potentially have a negative impact on egg quality and quantity. In some cases, it can be impossible to create a viable embryo using a woman’s own eggs.

However, you may still be able to have a child by using a donor egg. In egg donation, an egg from another woman is fertilized with your partner’s or a donor’s sperm and then implanted into your uterus, if possible. If your doctors have determined that endometriosis is causing issues to both your ovarian reserve and your ability to carry a child, you may want to consider using both a surrogate and an egg donor.

Endometriosis is a painful and complicated diagnosis, especially for women who hope to achieve pregnancy. Using assisted reproduction may not be how you envisioned your family-building journey, but methods such as surrogacy and egg donation can bring you closer to your dreams of having a child. That said, both treatments require great sacrifice and consideration. To learn more about whether these options are right for you, contact Fertility Source Companies today.