Endometriosis and fertility: current state of the issue

• Armen A. Grigoryants
• Natalya A. Burova
• Valerya V. Avrutskaya
• Marina A. Levkovich
• Irina I. Krukier
• Denis V. Aksenenko

Abstract

The relevance of the issue of the impact of endometriosis on fertility and pregnancy is due to the fact that there is currently an increase in the incidence of the disease. In the Russian Federation, according to various studies, the prevalence of endometriosis among women of reproductive age reaches 10–15%, and among patients suffering from infertility – 30–50%. In particular, a significant increase in the incidence is observed in the Stavropol Territory in 2022 and 2023 compared to 2020 by 18.4 and 20.9%, respectively. Despite the high prevalence of endometriosis, it still remains one of the most mysterious pathologies in terms of its impact on the course of pregnancy. Understanding the mechanisms by which endometriosis affects reproductive function, including inflammatory and immune disorders, can improve the prognosis of fertility and minimize the risks associated with pregnancy, which helps to reduce the incidence of complications and improve the quality of life of women. Its potential to impact female fertility requires early diagnosis and a personalized approach, as the disease burden may be even more devastating when combined with age-related decline in ovarian reserve.

Keywords: endometriosis; fertility; pregnancy course; reproductive health; endometriosis incidence; external endometriosis; pregnancy complications

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