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Expert Q&A

	By Craig Sweet, M.D. Reproductive Endocrinologist

I have endometriosis and have been on birth control pills or Depo Provera for over 8 years to control the pain with periods. I would like to get pregnant within the next year. Do you suggest I stop getting the shot soon? What else should I be aware of with endometriosis and becoming pregnant?

The majority of women will resume menses within four months of stopping the injection of Depo Provera. A few patients take longer, so contact your physician if you go beyond six months. I have had only two patients over the past 22 years that took up to one year.

Not knowing the stage of endometriosis makes answering the second part of the question difficult. There are four stages of endometriosis: stages I & II and III & IV. Stages I & II may make it a bit more difficult to become pregnant, but it makes sense to at least try for a number of months before contacting your physician. If you had more advanced disease (stages III or IV), it might be wise to sit with a board certified reproductive endocrinologist and discuss the options before wasting too much time on your own.

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