Yes. In addition to causing chronic pelvic pain that can be debilitating and difficult to manage, endometriosis can cause other health complications. Women with endometriosis have a slightly higher than average rate of ovarian cancer.
Infertility is another possible complication: Up to half of all women with endometriosis have difficulty conceiving, while about 40% of women with infertility also have endometriosis. That’s because the chronic inflammation caused by endometriosis can damage sperm and eggs, hinder their movement, and prevent them from coming together. Women with mild to moderate endometriosis are often advised not to delay having children, as the problem can worsen with time.