Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease of the female reproductive system in which cells similar to those in the endometrium, the layer of tissue that normally covers the inside of the uterus, grow outside the uterus. Most often this is on the ovaries, f ...
and its complications are a major cause of
female infertility
Female infertility refers to infertility in women. It affects an estimated 48 million women, with the highest prevalence of infertility affecting women in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa/Middle East, and Central/Eastern Europe and Cen ...
. Endometriosis is a dysfunction characterized by the migration of endometrial tissue to areas outside of the
endometrium
The endometrium is the inner epithelial layer, along with its mucous membrane, of the mammalian uterus. It has a basal layer and a functional layer: the basal layer contains stem cells which regenerate the functional layer. The functional laye ...
of the uterus. The most common places to find stray tissue are on ovaries and fallopian tubes, followed by other organs in the lower
abdominal cavity
The abdominal cavity is a large body cavity in humans and many other animals that contains many organs. It is a part of the abdominopelvic cavity. It is located below the thoracic cavity, and above the pelvic cavity. Its dome-shaped roof is the th ...
such as the bladder and intestines. Typically, the endometrial tissue adheres to the exteriors of the organs, and then creates attachments of scar tissue called adhesions that can join adjacent organs together. The endometrial tissue and the adhesions can
block a fallopian tube and prevent the meeting of ovum and sperm cells, or otherwise interfere with fertilization, implantation and, rarely, the carrying of the fetus to term.
Endometriosis is estimated to occur in 1% to 5% of women, with an associated risk of infertility for between 30% and 50% of this population.
[ Endometriosis is commonly classified under the revised ]American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization for advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The society has its headquarters in Washington, D.C and its administrativ ...
system from ''minimal endometriosis'' to ''severe endometriosis''. The therapy and management of endometriosis for infertility is based on the severity of endometriosis.
Diagnosis and classification
Endometriosis often presents with a very diverse array of symptoms, such as dysmenorrhea
Dysmenorrhea, also known as period pain, painful periods or menstrual cramps, is pain during menstruation. Its usual onset occurs around the time that menstruation begins. Symptoms typically last less than three days. The pain is usually in the ...
(pain during mensuration), cyclical pelvic pain (generalized pain in the lower abdomen that predictably worsens with menstruation), dyspareunia
Dyspareunia ( ) is painful sexual intercourse due to medical or psychological causes. The term ''dyspareunia'' covers both female dyspareunia and male dyspareunia, but many discussions that use the term without further specification concern the f ...
(pain during intercourse), or infertility
Infertility is the inability of a person, animal or plant to reproduce by natural means. It is usually not the natural state of a healthy adult, except notably among certain eusocial species (mostly haplodiploid insects). It is the normal state ...
(inability to achieve a pregnancy with unprotected intercourse for > 1 year). One suggested pathophysiologic mechanism involves retrograde menstruation and endometrial interactions with peritoneal inflammatory cytokines that promote ectopic implantation and growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Most women experience this phenomena during normal cycles, rendering many susceptible to endometriosis. Up to 4.1% of women undergoing tubal ligation
Tubal ligation (commonly known as having one's "tubes tied") is a surgical procedure for female sterilization in which the fallopian tubes are permanently blocked, clipped or removed. This prevents the fertilization of eggs by sperm and thus th ...
surgeries have visually apparent, but clinically asymptomatic endometrial implantations. The poor correlation between extent of ectopic implantation to symptom severity makes early detection and intervention challenging. Women in which the presenting symptom is infertility often have diagnoses delayed beyond the average window of 25–29 years of age.
The gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis is a diagnostic laparoscopy
Laparoscopy () is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.Medli ...
, a minimally invasive procedure that involves a camera entering the abdominals through a small incision to examine the abdominal cavity for the presence of endometriotic tissue outside of the uterus. Suspect lesions may be further examined microscopically for confirmation, before being classified as:
* Superficial Endometriosis: adhesions are limited to organ surfaces (< 5mm)
* Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE): endometriotic tissue infiltrate into the retroperitoneal space for 5mm or more
Upon diagnosis of endometriosis, there are also several classification systems to rate the prognosis. Currently, revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) classification is the most globally accepted and widely used system for the classification of endometriosis. It uses a weighted scoring system, in which values are assigned according to the size and severity of endometriotic adhesions in the ovaries, peritoneum, and fallopian tube. The cumulative score is then ranked as:
* ''Stage I'' (minimal): 1-5
**Isolated implants without notable adhesions
* ''Stage II'' (mild): 6-15
**Scattered implants (size < 5 cm) on the peritoneum and ovaries, without notable adhesions
* ''Stage III'' (moderate): 16-40
**Presence of both superficial and deeply infiltrating, with the addition of ovarian and tubal adhesions
* ''Stage IV'' (severe): > 40
**Extensive superficial and deep implants, dense adhesions, and notably large endometriomas (endometrial tissue growing on the ovaries)
Despite being the preferred staging system, each successive stage does not accurately predict the severity of pain an individual will experience or infertility. In fact, there was no difference in observed fertility rates following use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) across rASRM stages. To more accurately predict infertility rates, the development of the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI) was proposed in 2010.
Used in conjunction with rASRM, EFI functional scores incorporate patient characteristics to strengthen predictions of infertility, such as age, duration of infertility, and history of prior pregnancy. With 5 possible points derived from surgical findings and 5 possible points from patient characteristics, EFI functional scores range from 0 (worst prognosis, lowest probability of natural pregnancy) to 10 (best prognosis, highest probability of natural pregnancy). Currently, EFI remains the only validated classification system that predicts pregnancy outcomes for patients following laparoscopy for endometriosis. EFI staging is performed as follows:
''Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI):''
* Historical Factors:
** Age (≤ 35 years, 36–39 years, ≥ 40 years)
** Years of infertility (≤ 3 years, > 3 years)
** Prior pregnancy (yes or no)
* Surgical Factors:
** Least function (LF) score (estimating function of fallopian tubes, fimbriae, and ovaries)
** AFS endometriosis score
** AFS total score
''Estimated percent pregnant using ART by EFI score:''
* EFI Score 9-10: 75%
* EFI Score 7-8: 65%
* EFI Score 6: 55%
* EFI Score 4: 24%
* EFI Score 0-3: 10%
Predicted pregnancy rates by EFI is dependent on functional ova and sperm of both parents, as well as the absence of uterine structural of functional abnormalities. While initial development of this fertility grading score took into account the use of ART (assisted reproductive technology
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. This subject involves procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes o ...
), subsequent studies have shown the scale holds true in the setting of natural forms of conception, such as timed intercourse with ovulation, regardless of ovulation induction methods. When observed over longer periods of time, estimated probabilities for pregnancy were more favorable than originally suggested; therefore, the EFI score likely offers the lower end of fertility expectations and may be used to decide between use of ART or natural methods for conception.
Mechanism
The mechanisms by which endometriosis may cause infertility are not clearly understood, particularly when the extent of endometriosis is low. Proposed mechanisms involve an interplay of genes, hormones, inflammatory and immune mediators. Some examples of pathways are:
*Retrograde menstruation. In the normal menstrual cycle, the blood goes down the cervix to the vagina. Sometimes, part of this menstruation can go through the tubes and get out the abdominal cavity, and cause a cyst of endometrius.
*Cells metaplasia, so the transformation of the cells into endometrial tissue.
*Anatomical distortions and adhesions
Adhesions are fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs, often as a result of injury during surgery. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue that connects tissues not normally connected.
Pathophysiology
Adhesions form as a natural ...
(the fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs following recovery from an injury) impair oocyte production and ovulation, decrease sperm motility, and lead to disordered myometrial contractions that can affect fertilization and embryo transport. Increased levels of adhesion molecules have been found in serum of women with endometriosis. These molecules include VCAM-1, ICAM-1, metalloproteinases, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, and MMP-9.
*Advanced stages of endometriosis and, in particular, cases of endometrioma
Endometrioma is the presence of tissue similar to, but distinct from, the endometrium in and sometimes on the ovary. It is the most common form of endometriosis. Endometrioma is found in 17–44% patients with endometriosis. More broadly, endometr ...
s where the endometrial tissue is growing in and around the ovary can cause reduction of ovarian reserve. One proposed mechanism of this pathway is that toxic products secreted from the endometrioma may have detrimental effects on maintenance of oocytes.
*The release of factors from endometriotic cysts which are detrimental to gametes and affect sperm function. An endometriotic cyst contains free iron, reactive oxygen species
In chemistry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive chemicals formed from diatomic oxygen (). Examples of ROS include peroxides, superoxide, hydroxyl radical, singlet oxygen, and alpha-oxygen.
The reduction of molecular oxygen () p ...
, proteolytic enzyme
A protease (also called a peptidase, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases reaction rate or "speeds up") proteolysis, breaking down proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids, and spurring the for ...
s and inflammatory molecule
Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molecu ...
s. Follicular density in tissue surrounding the endometriotic cyst has been consistently shown to be significantly lower than in healthy ovaries, and to a degree that does not appear to be caused merely by the stretching of surrounding tissues owing to the presence of a cyst.
* Women with endometriosis show increase in inflammatory markers in their peritoneal fluid
Peritoneal fluid is a serous fluid made by the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity which lubricates the surface of tissue that lines the abdominal wall and pelvic cavity. It covers most of the organs in the abdomen. An increased volume of peritone ...
, specifically within the pelvic area. Altered peritoneal fluid that surrounds ovaries can have oxidative DNA damage to oocytes and be harmful to an embryo. Furthermore, increased levels of circulating cytokine
Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins (~5–25 kDa) important in cell signaling. Cytokines are peptides and cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm. Cytokines have been shown to be involved in autocrin ...
s and chemokines can contribute to an overall inflammatory state. Some of these cytokines include interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and RANTES. This chronic inflammatory state can lead to fibrosis
Fibrosis, also known as fibrotic scarring, is a pathological wound healing in which connective tissue replaces normal parenchymal tissue to the extent that it goes unchecked, leading to considerable tissue remodelling and the formation of perma ...
that is a commonly seen in endometriosis, often presenting as adhesions.
*Epigenetic alterations of CYP19A1 gene may cause deregulation in cumulus cells in infertile women with endometriosis, leading to altered ovarian follicles and impaired oocyte quality.
For other unknown reasons, endometriosis is more likely to develop in infertile women, and thus be a secondary phenomenon. It is preferable to speak of "endometriosis-associated infertility" rather than any definite "infertility caused by endometriosis" because association does not imply causation
The phrase "correlation does not imply causation" refers to the inability to legitimately deduce a cause-and-effect relationship between two events or variables solely on the basis of an observed association or correlation between them. The ide ...
.
Management
Medication
In addition to pain control, medical management of endometriosis targets the suppression of hormonally active endometriotic tissue. Standard pharmacotherapy for women diagnosed with endometriosis include:
* Analgesics (eg non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is a medication used to treat fever and mild to moderate pain. Common brand names include Tylenol and Panadol.
At a standard dose, paracetamol only slightly decreases body temperature; it is inferior ...
)
* Oral contraceptive pill Oral contraceptives, abbreviated OCPs, also known as birth control pills, are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control.
Female
Two types of female oral contraceptive pill, taken once per day, are widely available:
* The combin ...
s
* Androgenic agents (eg danazol
Danazol, sold as Danocrine and other brand names, is a medication used in the treatment of endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, hereditary angioedema and other conditions. It is taken by mouth.
The use of danazol is limited by masculini ...
)
* Progestogens (eg medroxyprogesterone acetate
Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in injectable form and sold under the brand name Depo-Provera among others, is a hormonal medication of the progestin type. It is used as a method of bi ...
)
* Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas)
* Anti-progestogens (eg gestrinone
Gestrinone, sold under the brand names Dimetrose and Nemestran among others, is a medication which is used in the treatment of endometriosis. It has also been used to treat other conditions such as uterine fibroids and heavy menstrual bleeding a ...
)
Other than the analgesics, all these medications attempt to suppress follicle growth, induce amenorrhea, and suppress endometriotic lesions to improve fertility. However, as many of these therapies have contraceptive effects, they are not ideal for women seeking fertility. Instead, they postpone pregnancy and imply side effects.
A second strategy is to stimulate follicle growth and ovulation. Clomiphene citrate, both alone or in combination with gonadotropins, is the most commonly prescribed. Aromatase inhibitors have also been used for follicle stimulation, but their efficacy have not been isolated.
Immunomodulators such as interferon alpha 2 (IFN-α 2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors are being studied in women with severe endometriosis. A study that included nineteen women received Etanercept
Etanercept, sold under the brand name Enbrel among others, is a biologic medical product that is used to treat autoimmune diseases by interfering with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a soluble inflammatory cytokine, by acting as a TNF inhibitor. It h ...
before an IVF cycle showed a higher pregnancy rate compared to women who were not treated. Further studies still need to be done in order to determine the risk of infectious adverse events.
Surgery
Surgical intervention of endometriosis is indicated for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It can be utilized for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriotic adhesions, as a second-line treatment following the failure or intolerance of pharmacotherapy, or for treatment of infertility in some patients.
The goal of surgical intervention in ''mild'' endometriosis is to destroy or remove endometriotic implants, which has been shown to successfully improve fertility. Possible types of surgeries include excision, electrodiathermy, or laser.
The goal of surgical intervention in ''moderate/severe'' endometriosis is not only to remove large endometriomas, but also to restore the normal anatomy of the pelvis. However, there are no RCTs comparing these surgeries with medical or non-treatment. Ideally, surgery would be performed to diagnose while simultaneously treating. This can minimize exposure to multiple surgeries. In cases of severe endometriosis, lesions may or may not be limited to the pelvic area, and may require advanced ultrasound in order to create a more accurate surgical plan.
Compared to hormonal suppression, surgery is more effective at treating infertility in women who suffer from endometriosis, especially for women with mild to moderate endometriosis. While surgery can enhance the chances of conceiving naturally during the 12-18 ensuing months, the removal of ovarian endometrioma
Endometrioma is the presence of tissue similar to, but distinct from, the endometrium in and sometimes on the ovary. It is the most common form of endometriosis. Endometrioma is found in 17–44% patients with endometriosis. More broadly, endometr ...
s may be more risky and cause potential harm on future reproductive success. For this reason, there are certain criteria that a surgeon must take into account beforehand in order to have minimal effect on ovarian reserve Ovarian reserve is a term that is used to determine the capacity of the ovary to provide egg cells that are capable of fertilization resulting in a healthy and successful pregnancy. With advanced maternal age the number of egg cell that can be succe ...
. Bilateral versus unilateral cystectomy
Cystectomy is a medical term for surgical removal of all or part of the urinary bladder. It may also be rarely used to refer to the removal of a cyst. The most common condition warranting removal of the urinary bladder is bladder cancer.
Two mai ...
of endometriomas can reduce ovarian reserve, as well as recurrent endometrioma excisions. Combination of surgery and postoperative hormonal suppression therapy can also reduce the risk of recurring lesions and pain symptoms.
Laparoscopic
Laparoscopy () is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.Medli ...
excision of endometriomas has been shown to have better health outcomes including shorter post-operative recovery times, shorter hospital stays and decreased hospital costs compared to other endometriosis-associated surgeries. However, the preferred surgical procedure is unclear in women who plan to undergo fertility treatment post-operation.
Intrauterine insemination
In women with minimal to mild endometriosis, as defined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization for advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The society has its headquarters in Washington, D.C and its administrativ ...
, intrauterine insemination is the preferred treatment; however, the effects are modest if used as a monotherapy. The use of fertility medication that stimulates ovulation (clomiphene citrate
Clomifene, also known as clomiphene, is a medication used to treat infertility in women who do not ovulate, including those with polycystic ovary syndrome. Use results in a greater chance of twins. It is taken by mouth once a day, with a course ...
, gonadotropin
Gonadotropins are glycoprotein hormones secreted by gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary of vertebrates. This family includes the mammalian hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), the placental/ chorioni ...
s) combined with intrauterine insemination
Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...
(IUI) enhances fertility in this population[ as does assisted reproduction.]
IUI is not given to women with moderate to severe endometriosis due to damage and scarring of the fallopian tubes associated with endometriosis.
In vitro fertilization
In-vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating an individual's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) ...
(IVF) procedures are effective in improving fertility in many women with endometriosis, especially in those who experience severe endometriosis. Discounting those with damage to the oocytes and embryos, IVF procedures have yielded similar results in increasing fertility among both women with and without endometriosis. IVF makes it possible to combine sperm and eggs in a laboratory and then place the resulting embryos into the uterus. The decision when to apply IVF in endometriosis-associated infertility cases takes into account the age of the individual, severity of the endometriosis, presence of other infertility factors, and the results and duration of past treatments. In ovarian hyperstimulation as part of IVF for women with endometriosis, using a standard GnRH agonist protocol has been found to be equally effective in regard to using a GnRH antagonist protocol in terms of pregnancy rate Pregnancy rate is the success rate for getting pregnant. It is the percentage of all attempts that leads to pregnancy, with attempts generally referring to menstrual cycles where insemination or any artificial equivalent is used, which may be simple ...
. On the other hand, when using a GnRH agonist protocol, long-term (three to six months) pituitary down-regulation before IVF for those with endometriosis has been estimated to increase the odds of clinical pregnancy by fourfold.
No difference has been found between surgery (cystectomy or aspiration) versus expectant management, or between ablation versus cystectomy, prior to IVF in women with endometriosis.
Utilizing IVF procedures prior to endometriosis-associated surgery has not been shown to enhance fertility compared to utilizing IVF procedures post-surgery.
Epidemiology
Specific risk factors are still undetermined; however, genetic and environmental factors have been found to be associated with endometriosis, with genetic risk factors accounting for about 51% of endometriosis cases. Genetic risk factors associated with endometriosis include:
*Earlier menarche (≤11 years of age)
*Short menstrual cycles (≤27 days)
*Higher follicular-phase estradiol levels in taller women
*Lower BMI
*First-degree relative with endometriosis
Environmental risk factors include:
*exposure to ovarian hormones.
Early life risk factors found correlated with increased risk for endometriosis include:
*low birth weight (under 2.5 kg or 5.5 lbs).
Higher physical activity levels and a diet with omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammatory markers, and decrease the risk of endometriosis.
References
{{reflist
Infertility
Noninflammatory disorders of female genital tract