Could a simple blood test help identify endometriosis before you spend years being told you have “unexplained infertility”?
Endometriosis is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of fertility challenges, and many women spend a decade or more looking for answers with their doctors. Sadly, some patients are diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” when endometriosis may actually be part of the picture. This can lead to delays in treatment and pregnancy.
As you know, I always say “diagnosis before treatment.” The frustrating thing is that doctors often have a blind spot around endometriosis because the traditional way to confirm it has been through laparoscopic surgery, which is an outpatient procedure. Plus, some doctors are dismissive of endo, and don’t insist on patients getting tested.
The good news is that fertility specialists now have another tool in the toolbox: a non-invasive blood test called HerResolve.
In this episode, I’m joined by reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Mary Peavey of Atlantic Fertility in Raleigh, North Carolina, to talk about how this new test works, who may benefit from it, and whether it could help patients get the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and potentially get to pregnancy faster. It’s truly an exciting discussion and breakthrough, and I am delighted to share it with you.
In this episode, we cover:
- What endometriosis is and why it can be an important factor in infertility
- How even mild or “silent” endometriosis can affect egg quality, embryo development, implantation, ovarian reserve, and inflammation
- Why endometriosis is often underdiagnosed or mistaken for unexplained infertility, and why women can go years without answers
- Why laparoscopic surgery has historically been central to endometriosis diagnosis and how that can contribute to diagnostic delays
- How HerResolve works and how this non-invasive blood test may help clinicians identify patients who may have endometriosis
- How identifying endometriosis may help guide fertility treatment decisions, including treatment after failed embryo transfers
- When patients with unexplained infertility or suspected endometriosis may want to ask their fertility doctor about testing and evaluation
Resources:
HerResolve endometriosis blood test by HerAnova
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