Endometriosis Could Mean Troubled Pregnancy

A new study has revealed that women with endometriosis are more likely to face complications during pregnancy. According to the researchers, endometriosis may increase the risk of a miscarriage by over 75 percent.

Endometriosis is a common condition characterized by the appearance of endometrial tissue – a lining within the uterus -- outside the womb in the pelvic area. The condition is associated with heavy menstrual periods, abdominal pain and infertility.

The study was based on the discharge data collected from hospitals across the U.K. During the study, medical records of 14,655 British women were studied. The women were studied for up to 30 years, between 1981 and 2010.

Two groups of pregnant women were studied – those with and without endometriosis. The researchers found that women with endometriosis were at a greater risk of complications early during pregnancy.

The researchers say the risk of a miscarriage is 76 percent higher for women with endometriosis. In addition, the risk was found to be three times higher for ectopic pregnancy, as compared to women who did not have endometriosis.

"These results indicate that endometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications," wrote Dr. Lucky Saraswat, the lead researcher, in a statement.

Saraswat wrote that structural and functional changes in the uterine lining due to endometriosis have a direct impact on the development and implantation of the placental tissue, which may lead to complications during pregnancy.