Q:   Can I get pregnant if I have endometriosis?
A:   Yes, you can. Nearly all women who have endometriosis are fertile, and there are many women who have the disease and go on to have children. Endometriosis, unless it blocks the Fallopian tubes, is generally not thought to be an absolute barrier to contraception.

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Q:   Is there any way I can prevent endometriosis?
A:   Unfortunately, the answer is probably not. Researchers cannot say with certainty what causes some women to get the disease while other women do not. Only 10 percent to 15 percent of all women in their reproductive years suffer from endometriosis.

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Q:   What options are available to treat endometriosis?
A:   The most common medical therapies for endometriosis are hormonal contraceptives and other hormonal regimens, such as GnRH agonists (gonadotropin releasing hormone drugs), that control hormonal stimulation of the endometrial tissue. Danazol, a synthetic androgen, is also used, but it can cause some undesirable side effects, including weight gain, hirsutism (hair growth) and lowering of the voice. Surgical treatments range from removing only the endometrial implants by means of laparoscopy to removing the uterus and ovaries.

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