This is another article that hits VERY close to home for me!!!

If you are struggling with infertility, one of the reasons could be endometriosis. It is a condition where cells from the inner lining of the womb grow outside of the uterus. When this happens it causes very painful periods and often times leads to issues with fertility.

Scientists from the University of Liverpool looked at levels of telomerase, which is an enzyme that is released by cells at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. The job of the enzyme is to aid in the shedding of the cells. This enzyme is most commonly found in the inner lining of the womb, sperm and egg cells.

Their study found that this enzyme becomes a problem when it is released a second time at the end of a woman’s cycle. This is because it causes the cells to continue to divide and interferes with the process of becoming pregnant. Their study found that only women suffering from endometriosis seemed to have this extra release of the hormone at the end of their menstrual cycle. The scientists believe that the extra cell dividing causes an environment that is not conducive to the implanting and fertilizing of an embryo.

The researchers from this study hope that their findings will help doctors learn more about endometriosis, and how to help women who suffer from this condition.

This study can be found in the journal, Human Reproduction.