Endometriosis: What Really Changes When You (Finally) Get Pregnant
If you’re familiar with our site, you know that getting pregnant has taken a lot from my husband and me, surgeries, IVF, hormonal injections, and years. So, growing our family was a long and tough process for a real desire and a lifetime dream.
My doctors never agreed with the whole “pregnancy cure endometriosis” theory, and I don’t either (I’m actually already fearing the big come back), but whilst carrying my son, it’s true that I felt much better, and energized as my body wasn’t constantly fighting anymore. Don’t get me wrong, pregnancy can be wearying, and may take a lot from you from one day to another, but it’s far from comparable to living with endometriosis.
However, please, always keep in mind that getting pregnant to “cure” endometriosis is not something you should ever do, having a child is a real responsibility, and a forever change in your life.
Pregnancy is not a cure to endometriosis, and chances are, your endometriosis will unfortunately come back once your period resumes.
Blood
Endometriosis and blood go hand in hand. Endometrial tissues thicken every month in preparation for the implantation. Periods occur when the egg cell hasn’t been fertilized: the endometrium shed and exit through the vagina. Someone suffering from endometriosis will have endometrial tissues growing outside of the uterus and/or on/in other organs and mucosa. The problem is that, it’ll keep reacting to the hormones and act the same way as if it was still inside the uterus, meaning, it will thicken, and bleed; but without a way out, causing inflammation(s) and several days of internal bleeding(s). Sometimes, endometrial tissues grow in places that allow the blood to come out from other orifices (urethral meatus, and anus).
During pregnancy, passed the implantation that may (or may not) cause some bleeding, you shouldn’t experience anymore bleeding that occasional very light bleeding or spotting.
Not having your period for months is a real gift, and you should enjoy it as much as possible! Especially if you suffer from endometriosis, you’ll feel true relief.
Fever
Fever may not be one of the most famous symptoms of the endometriosis disorder, yet it’s definitely one you may encounter during your menstruations, and for the luckiest of us even more often (for me, all year round). We aren’t talking about a high grade fever here, but a low to mild raise of the body temperature - below 38.5° (101.3°).
The inflammation caused by all the endometrial tissues growing in the wrong places (outside of the uterus) may result in an increase in your body temperature.
During pregnancy, the endometrial tissues (outside the uterus) are dormant due to the change of hormones, therefore, the body can stop the constant fight with inflammation they cause.
However the very end of pregnancy + Summer heat isn’t as enjoyable as it has been! - Yet, not as bad as a constant low-grade fever.
Recurrent UTI
(Urinary Tract Infection)
Symptoms differ from one patient to another, but if your endometrial tissues have had the great idea of growing inside your bladder just like mine, you’ll know this one too well.
A healthy bladder lining is naturally smooth to ease urine flow, when endometriosis sets down on/in the bladder, it roughens the lining which makes it a very attractive place for bacterias to take up residence. The infection starts, and comes with it bladder spasms, bloody urine, increase in body temperature, urgent need to urinate (even a drop), way too many trips to the bathroom etc.
And as this isn’t just a typical urinary infection, antibiotics are only a momentary relieve, and the UTI will likely return soon after the antibiotics are finished.
During pregnancy, I was able to pee without tearing from pain, and my urine was blood free, infections have ceased around the 8th week of pregnancy, and my bladder stopped spasming painfully and as a replacement I got loving daily kicks on it, and a bit of pressure increasing all through pregnancy, which means that the trip to the bathroom will not decrease however.
Photo via Sugar And Cloth.
Chronic Pyelonephritis
(Kidney Infections)
If you don’t know about chronic pyelonephritis due to endometriosis, you got a stroke of good luck in your misfortune. Let me tell you that a chronic infection in your kidney(s) on top of the endo pain real does add up. Chronic pyelonephritis (linked to endometriosis) are due to endometrial tissues spread to the ureter(s), or kidneys, or both, and to adherences.
During pregnancy, the hormones change, which puts the endometrium (and endometrial tissues that have traveled across your body if you’re affected by endometriosis) to sleep. Therefore, there are no more swelling nor endometrial shedding, which meant for me, and other women suffering from ureteral and/or kidney endometriosis that not only bleeding will stop, but kidneys, ureters and bladder infections will stop, and so until the menstrual cycle restarts postpartum.
Sex
Pain during sex is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis. It generally occurs as penetration causes inflammation to the endometrial tissues that have grown outside of the uterus and more precisely in the front wall of the rectum and/or the wall of the vagina, or even cervix. Adherences especially between the vagina and rectum prevent expansion and mobility which might cause even more pain during sexual relations.
During pregnancy, adherences are likely to gain flexibility (due to the hormones and growth of the uterus) which over the weeks will release some of the pain. The rest of the pain will go away right away as the endometrial tissues are dormant and drying during the interruption of the menstruations. So, from the beginning of the pregnancy, the pain is likely going to give you a break during your intimate moments, however, as your baby grows, and your belly gets in the way, you may need to make use of your creativity (and flexibility…).
Bloating
No matter the reason, location or type, with inflammation comes swelling. So of course, there’s no difference with endometriosis. When endometrial tissues growing outside of the uterus, especially the digestive system, it is going to swell, and bleed/shed in the wrong places, causing even more inflammation than just the endometrial tissue itself. Pretty much like a volcano erupting. This results in extreme pain, and extreme bloating.
During pregnancy, bloating is likely to stay put, but it’ll be a different feeling, a better feeling. Hormones are working really hard, and intestines are often affected by them, causing some occasional bloating, but more likely, the pressure and weight of your growing baby inside the womb will cause a similar feeling, yet not as disagreeable, and mines the pain.
Photo via Pinterest, source unknown.
Nausea & Vomiting
There are many reasons for these two symptoms.
Nausea and vomiting are also some of the common symptoms of endometriosis, especially if you have endometrial tissues spread to your gastrointestinal system; but not exclusively.
Hormones in general and hormonal imbalance are predicted to make you feel sick: some women don’t suffer from endometriosis or such conditions, yet sometimes experience nauseas and vomiting during their period as well. Strong pain itself is also likely to make you feel sick. So all these reasons to feel nauseous adding up often result in vomiting and gagging, which also increases pain in the stomach due to the acidity level increasing, sometimes leading to a gastroesophageal reflux.
Each pregnancy is different, and some women will not get morning sickness, some will get it from beginning to the end, so this one is hard to foresee. But keep in mind that morning sickness will not be accompanied by pain, blood, and all the endometriosis symptoms you are unfortunately use to experience. So what is a little nausea once in a while? You can do it!
Bowel Movement
Endometriosis in the digestive system, from the stomach (or even from the oesophagus for some) to the rectum, is one of the most symptomatic places for endometrial tissues to migrate. It causes tons and tons of very strong spasms in the whole digestive system on a daily basis (generally), that worsen during ovulation and keeps aggravating prior to the period and until the end of it. Rectal bleeding is common as the endometrial tissues bleed the same way as it would in the uterus, and sheds down to the exit.
During pregnancy, symptoms differ from one woman to another; but in general, hormones have an impact on the digestive system. Therefore, alternations of mild constipations and mild diarrheas all throughout pregnancy are common due to all the fast changes in your body, such as your organs adjusting, moving, and making space for themselves as they’re being squashed away by your growing uterus, occasional stress, and as mentioned above, hormones fluctuations. But nothing you can’t handle if you are used to experiencing the endometriosis in your bowels, intestines, and rectum; you’ll actually feel much better, and feel very much less in bowel spasming, and no rectal bleeding at all. Yay!