Hollywood Life recently turned to SGF’s Dr. Andrea Reh to weigh in on Halsey’s endometriosis diagnosis and possible causes of her multiple miscarriages.
The singer is only 24-years-old and tweeted, “I have endometriosis. I’ve had th miscarriages, 4 surgeries, pretty much in pain every day of my life.”
Endometriosis is a diagnosis common among girls and women in their reproductive years. It is a condition in which endometrial tissue (tissue that lines the inside of the uterus) grows outside the uterus and eventually sheds into the abdominal cavity. Inflammation occurs in the areas where the blood pools, forming scar tissue. When the endometrial tissue forms on other reproductive organs aside from the inside of the uterus, it interferes with ovulation, tubal transport, and embryo quality.
One of the most common signs of endometriosis is abnormally painful menstrual cramps. If you tend to feel extremely painful cramps, or pain with intercourse, it might be time to see a specialist to seek further information. However, some women experience no symptoms at all, and are only diagnosed when they struggle with conception.
“Endometriosis is associated with infertility. Many women who have endometriosis will have a harder time getting pregnant,” Dr. Reh continues. “Not every woman will have a hard time, but it is a risk factor. A history of endometriosis can make it much more difficult for a woman—even at a younger age—to get pregnant. It also depends on the degree of the endometriosis. Endometriosis can be mild or quite severe, which can also play a role in getting pregnant.”
Watch: SGF’s New On-Demand Webinar, Getting Pregnant with Endometriosis
Can Halsey attribute her miscarriages to endometriosis? “Endometriosis is one risk factor why women miscarry, but it would be hard to say that that’s the cause without excluding other reasons first,” Dr. Reh says. “There are other risk factors involved and most likely it may be genetic, meaning the embryo itself was abnormal.”
As for Halsey’s multiple miscarriages at such a young age, Dr. Reh explains “Any woman who has two or more miscarriages, we recommend them undergoing an evaluation with a specialist to rule out other causes such as genetic causes, the uterus itself, or hormonal causes.” More on recurrent miscarriage.
Getting Pregnant with Endometriosis
Every treatment plan at SGF is customized to fit the patient’s unique diagnosis. Getting pregnant with endometriosis is very possible for most women. While endometriosis may make it harder to conceive on your own, your chances of getting pregnant with endometriosis can be high, depending on the severity of your condition, your age, your overall health, and your treatment options.
With both basic and advanced treatments, pregnancy is possible. Since endometriosis can take many forms, and the success rates of treatments vary, your doctor will outline your best treatment options with an individual plan for you.
Looking for inspiration? Read these endometriosis patient success stories:
Steph and Mike
Heather and Salah
Melissa and Paul
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Reh or another SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.
