Endometriosis and Fertility
Endometriosis can make the path to pregnancy more challenging. Many women wonder what their options are and how to prepare their body for a future pregnancy. We always begin with an individual assessment of your whole health.
Here’s what we often hear:
It took years before anyone took my pain seriously.
I live with endometriosis and worry about my fertility.
My periods leave me in bed for days.
I’ve had surgery, but the pain came back.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It can cause pelvic pain, painful periods, irregular cycles, and difficulty conceiving—though it does not automatically mean infertility.
Chinese medicine views endometriosis as a sign of underlying imbalance rather than an isolated condition. Poor circulation, chronic inflammation, hormonal disruption, and stress all contribute to creating an environment where endometrial tissue can grow where it shouldn't.
How does traditional Chinese medicine view endometriosis?
In traditional Chinese medicine, endometriosis is not seen as a single disease with the same treatment for everyone. Two women with the same diagnosis can have completely different symptoms, different health backgrounds and different fertility histories. That is why treatment is always based on an individual assessment of your whole health.
From a TCM perspective, treatment is about creating a better internal environment for the body’s normal functions. The treatment principles may, for example, involve supporting good circulation as understood in traditional Chinese medicine, reducing what TCM describes as stagnation, and strengthening the functions considered important for the menstrual cycle and reproductive health.
Many women with endometriosis experience not only pain but also issues such as irregular menstruation, heavy or scanty bleeding, fatigue, digestive problems or recurring fertility difficulties. In traditional Chinese medicine, these symptoms are seen as parts of the same overall picture, so treatment is adapted to the whole symptom picture, not just the diagnosis.
Because the body changes over time, the treatment changes too. Your herbal formulas are adjusted as your symptoms develop and your body responds.
Common treatment principles in traditional Chinese medicine
Support circulation
In traditional Chinese medicine, good circulation is considered important for a well-functioning menstrual cycle. When circulation is judged to be reduced in TCM terms, the goal may be to support a freer flow.
Reduce stagnation
Stagnation is a central concept in TCM, used to describe when the body’s normal flows are not working optimally. Treatment aims to restore balance as understood in traditional Chinese medicine.
Strengthen the body’s recovery
According to TCM, long-standing problems can affect the body’s capacity to recover. Treatment is therefore adapted to support the body’s own functions, based on the individual assessment.
Individually tailored treatment
There is no standard treatment for endometriosis in traditional Chinese medicine. Two women with the same diagnosis may receive completely different herbal formulas depending on their symptoms, health background and how the body changes over the course of treatment.
Our Clinical Experience
Since 2009, we have worked with many women with endometriosis who came to us for help with fertility problems. Some had previously been through several IVF attempts, while others had been advised to consider egg donation, or wanted to explore what other options exist.
Because endometriosis affects every woman differently, we have no standard treatment. Every treatment plan is designed individually and adjusted as the body and symptoms change during treatment.
Over the years, we have followed many women who later became pregnant, both naturally and through fertility treatment. Many patients also tell us that their symptoms, such as period pain and pelvic pain, change during treatment. How each person responds varies, though, and outcomes can't be predicted for any individual.
Discuss your situation with us
If you have endometriosis and would like an individual assessment of your situation, you are welcome to book a consultation. We go through your medical history, previous investigations and your goals, so we can talk through the treatment options that might suit you.
What the Research Says
The evidence for Chinese herbal medicine in endometriosis is substantial and growing, with studies published in leading reproductive medicine journals.
Large-Scale Evidence Across 148 Trials
A 2025 network meta-analysis in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology analysed 148 randomised controlled trials (16,198 participants). All Chinese patent medicines improved outcomes when combined with conventional therapy, with superior safety profiles compared to hormonal treatments alone.
Reduced Pain in Double-Blind Trial
A 2025 double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT across 7 hospitals (164 patients) published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine found that a Chinese herbal formula significantly improved pain scores, quality of life, and imaging findings compared to placebo.
Improved Pregnancy and Live Birth Rates
A 2023 multicenter cohort study across five Beijing hospitals (252 patients) found that CHM increased clinical pregnancy rates from 36% to 56% and live birth rates from 35% to 49% compared to controls.
Reduced Postoperative Recurrence
A 2024 systematic review of 22 RCTs (1,938 patients) in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that CHM significantly reduced postoperative recurrence of ovarian endometriotic cysts (OR=0.25) while also improving pregnancy rates.
Decreased Inflammation Markers
A 2025 meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (1,401 participants) found that CHM significantly reduced pain scores for dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia while decreasing key inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha and IL-6).
Recognised in Top-Tier Review
A comprehensive review in Human Reproduction Update—one of the highest-impact journals in reproductive medicine—concluded that CHM has been shown to decrease endometriotic lesion size, alleviate chronic pelvic pain, and reduce postoperative recurrence rates.
Note: While these studies show promising results, some authors note methodological limitations in individual trials. Chinese herbal medicine should be considered as a complementary approach, and we always recommend discussing your situation with your GP or specialist alongside any herbal support.
Take the First Step
Living with endometriosis doesn't mean giving up on your dream of parenthood. Get in touch to learn how we may be able to help.
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