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Fertility

Can I have a vaginal birth after endometriosis excision?

The short answer

In many cases, you can have a vaginal birth after endometriosis excision. A cesarean is not automatically needed, but deep disease between the vagina and rectum, significant scarring, or prior bowel or bladder surgery may change delivery planning.

In many cases, yes: having endometriosis or a history of excision surgery does not automatically mean you’ll need a cesarean. Most patients can plan for a vaginal birth unless specific anatomic concerns could affect labor or delivery.

We’re more cautious when there’s a history of deep disease involving the rectovaginal space, significant scarring, or prior surgery on the bowel or bladder. Those details can change delivery planning, so our team encourages reviewing your operative report and any current imaging with your OB team well before delivery so everyone is aligned on the safest plan. If you’re unsure what was treated during past surgery, we can help interpret your surgical history and discuss how it may (or may not) affect your birth options.

Where to go from here

Understand it, compare it with what you're feeling, then talk it through with us.

Understand

Understand the condition

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Planning Your Birth After Endometriosis?

Many patients can safely plan for a vaginal birth after endometriosis excision, but individual factors may influence delivery methods. Our specialists can help review your history and guide you through personalized birth planning.

Questions people ask next

All fertility questions
  • Will endometriosis excision surgery need bowel resection or a stoma?

    Most endometriosis excision surgeries do not require a bowel resection, and a stoma is uncommon. These possibilities come up mainly when endometriosis grows deep into the bowel wall or scar tissue has significantly distorted the anatomy.

  • Can endometriosis surgery improve my chances of conceiving?

    Excision surgery can improve the chances of conceiving for some patients with endometriosis, particularly when removing superficial disease helps restore more normal pelvic anatomy. Outcomes vary, and surgery on the ovaries can affect ovarian reserve.

Reach Out

Have a question?

Lotus Endometriosis Institute provides California-based surgical evaluation and advanced excision care for patients with suspected endometriosis, adenomyosis, complex pelvic pain, and related conditions.


Many patients contact us from outside California to learn whether traveling for in-person evaluation and possible surgery may be appropriate.

Call Us

(424) 255-1340

(805) 920-0909

Fax: (805) 935-4338

Santa Monica, CA

2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Operating Hours

8am - 5pm
Monday - Friday

Arroyo Grande, CA

154 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420