Your body carries its own rhythm, history, and resilience. Living with endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often means holding questions that don’t always have simple answers—especially when fertility timelines and treatment options come into focus. Learning how these conditions interact with reproduction can help bring clarity to what might otherwise feel overwhelming or uncertain.
When exploring endometriosis, PCOS, and their impact on fertility, guidance matters. At InVia Fertility, your experience leads the conversation. You bring your questions, priorities, and goals. The care team brings deep clinical insight, advanced technology, and a plan designed around you—never the other way around.
Endometriosis and Fertility: Understanding What’s Happening Inside Your Body
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This tissue responds to hormones and can trigger inflammation, which may alter how the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and surrounding pelvic structures function over time.
Endometriosis-related changes may affect fertility by:
Blocking or narrowing fallopian tubes, limiting egg and sperm movement
Creating adhesions around the ovaries, reducing access to released eggs
Altering pelvic anatomy, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy
Experiences vary widely, and so do symptoms. Some individuals notice pelvic pain, painful periods or bowel movements, constipation, or discomfort during intercourse. Others experience few outward signs at all. Evaluation may include pelvic exams, ultrasound imaging to identify endometriomas, and laparoscopy in select cases to view or remove visible implants.
PCOS and Fertility: Making Sense of Ovulation, Hormones, and Timing
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) influences how regularly ovulation occurs, which helps explain why cycles may become unpredictable or pause altogether.
Hormonal patterns offer important clues about how the ovaries are functioning and how to support them. Without a period, there is likely not ovulation, and without ovulation, it is highly unlikely for a pregnancy to occur, especially without medical treatment.
If you have PCOS, you may experience:
Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
Elevated androgen levels
Acne, thinning scalp hair, or increased hair growth on the face or body
Ultrasound findings showing twelve or more antral follicles per ovary
Throughout treatment, individuals remain active participants—reviewing response data, discussing dosage adjustments, and choosing next steps with a team that values shared decision-making.
What Can I Do If I Have Endometriosis or PCOS?
A diagnosis does not mean there is only one path forward. While endometriosis and PCOS can influence fertility, there are meaningful steps you can take to understand your options and build a plan that aligns with your goals.
Many individuals begin by:
Seeking a comprehensive evaluation with board-certified reproductive endocrinologists (REI) who specialize in complex fertility conditions
Tracking cycles and symptoms, which can reveal patterns that guide treatment decisions
Discussing assisted options like ovulation induction, IUI, IVF, or embryo freezing, depending on timing and priorities
Addressing overall health factors, including hormonal balance and metabolic considerations, that may influence treatment response
Care planning is not about rushing toward one solution. It’s about understanding what’s happening, reviewing available options, and choosing next steps with clarity and support. At InVia Fertility, those conversations happen with time, transparency, and respect for where you are right now.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing: Advanced Planning for Genetic Risk
For some with endometriosis or PCOS, IVF offers a clearer path toward pregnancy. During IVF, eggs are retrieved, fertilized in the lab, and the resulting embryos are carefully monitored as they divide and develop before transfer to the uterus.
Preimplantation genetic testing adds another layer of information:
PGT (aneuploidy testing)
PGT looks at the number of chromosomes in cells from a developing embryo. These cells are gently removed from the embryo’s outer layer. Most individuals have 46 chromosomes, with 23 contributed by each parent. PGT helps identify embryos with missing or extra chromosomes, changes that can lead to implantation failure or miscarriage.
PGT can provide important information if you have experienced multiple pregnancy losses, repeated unsuccessful transfers, or are navigating fertility care later in your reproductive life (age 35+). For many, this testing provides reassurance and helps focus transfer decisions on embryos with a chromosome profile that supports implantation and ongoing pregnancy.
PGT-M (single-gene testing)
PGT-M is used when the egg, sperm, or both could carry a specific genetic mutation. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, Tay-Sachs disease, Fragile X syndrome, and BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations fall in this category.
This form of testing allows embryos to be screened for a known genetic condition before transfer. If you have a family history of inherited disease, PGT-M can bring a sense of relief by reducing the chance of passing that condition forward. It offers space to plan with intention while honoring both medical realities and deeply personal values.
PGT-SR (structural rearrangement, often shortened to PGT-S)
PGT-SR is recommended when a parent carries a chromosomal rearrangement such as a translocation or inversion. These rearrangements can lead to embryos with missing or extra chromosomal material, even when the parent is healthy.
By identifying embryos with balanced chromosomes, PGT-SR helps support implantation and pregnancy progression. For many, this testing explains past challenges and offers a clearer path ahead, grounded in data rather than guesswork.
The decision to use PGT, PGT-M, or PGT-SR always happens in close partnership with your fertility specialist and, when helpful, a genetic counselor, so you understand benefits, limitations, and any added steps or expenses in the IVF process.
FAQs
How common is infertility with endometriosis?
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 25% to 50% of people experiencing infertility have endometriosis, and 30% to 50% of those diagnosed with endometriosis face fertility challenges.*
Can endometriosis or PCOS affect embryo numbers during IVF?
Yes. Endometriosis may reduce ovarian response, while PCOS may produce a higher number of follicles that do not mature predictably. Both conditions can influence how many eggs are retrieved and embryos are available for testing or transfer.
How do REI specialists decide on treatment approaches?
Board-certified reproductive endocrinologists (REI) review cycle history, ovarian reserve testing, imaging results, and how endometriosis or PCOS affects ovulation or pelvic anatomy. The goal is to recommend the least invasive, most effective approach that aligns with timing and family-building goals.
Learn More About Endometriosis, PCOS and the Impact on Fertility
Endometriosis and PCOS may shape the fertility journey, but they do not define its outcome. With the right information, thoughtful planning, and experienced care, these diagnoses become part of a larger story—one guided by choice, timing, and support.
If you’re ready to talk through symptoms, test results, or possible next steps, the team at InVia Fertility is here to listen and guide. With board-certified reproductive endocrinologists (REI), advanced diagnostics, and a personalized approach to care, you’ll find support grounded in both expertise and respect.
When you’re ready to take the next step on your family building journey, we’re ready to walk with you.
