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Expert Q&A
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| By Lawrence B. Werlin Fertility Specialist | ||
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I've been having unprotected intercourse for over a year and I have not been able to get pregnant. I'm only 23 but I'm very thin – not in an "ill" way. I'm concerned that I might have endometriosis, since I get really bad cramps and abdominal pain. I've had a pelvic ultrasound and it turns out I had a fibroid. I had a follow-up ultrasound and that one came out normal. I read that in order to find out if one has endometriosis, a pelvic ultrasound should be done. Is it possible to have that disease and for them to miss it? I also have pain during intercourse."
Typically having unprotected intercourse for a year and not successfully achieving a pregnancy would qualify as having fertility issues. To that end I would recommend that you seek a consultation with a reproductive endrocrinologist/infertility specialist to address the various issues.
Weight is a factor in your normal cycling. In order to calculate ideal weight, you use 60 inches (5 feet) as a baseline and 100 pounds. For every inch over 60 inches, one adds 4 to 6 pounds. For example, if you were 5 feet, 5 inches, your ideal weight would be between 120 to 130 pounds. If you are 20 percent above or below your ideal weight, you may have problems with ovulatory function.
One can clearly have a suspicion for endometriosis. The most common symptom that occurs is dysmennorhea (painful periods). This symptom occurs in about 30 percent of women who have endometriosis. That means that 70 percent who have the disease have no pain, and there are women who have pain who do not have the disease. The only way to document the disease is to do laporoscopy which is both diagnostic and therapeutic in that if you see disease, you can treat it at that time."
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