Juliana had no idea she had endometriosis. True, at age 23, she had undergone surgery for polycystic ovaries. But none of her doctors in Colombia — her native country — linked the presence of a cyst almost the size of her left ovary to any other condition.
“Keep in mind, this is something you just have,” they told her at the time. “You just need to keep an eye on it.”
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Five years ago, Juliana moved to Mexico City and met her current husband. After years together, they decided they wanted to have a baby. She became pregnant last summer. Given her history of polycystic ovaries, they consulted their gynecologist about their options for carrying the pregnancy to term.
During a general examination of her reproductive system, the doctor identified some “unusual spots” that required further evaluation. That was when her gynecologist suggested she have some ultrasounds done by a colleague who specialized in endometriosis.
“Since we were trying to have a baby, we did get a bit scared,” Juliana tells me.
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Endometriosis in Mexico: The numbers
Juliana is not the only woman in Mexico who discovered she had endometriosis while trying to conceive. Leticia experienced something similar during her annual checkup appointment. “I didn’t know anything was wrong,” she says in an interview, “and it turned out to be an endometrioma of nearly 7 centimeters.”
That was how she found out she had the disease — and needed surgery.
Both women are currently in their 30s, lead active lives, work independently — and share a desire to become mothers.
Dr. Anaïs Reyes Navarro defines endometriosis as a “chronic disease where endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, in other parts of the body.” According to her clinical experience, this makes carrying a pregnancy to term complicated. “Not impossible, but complicated,” she said in an interview. For its part, the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. notes that it can be a very painful disease.
Some common symptoms include heavy bleeding and periods that are irregular and painfully debilitating, along with chronic fatigue. However, Juliana shares that “her period was always regular, without too much pain.”
Diagnostic hurdles and high private costs
In addition to the physical discomfort, endometriosis is difficult to diagnose. The Revista Mexicana de Medicina de la Reproducción estimates that 35% of women with infertility issues in the country suffer from this condition.
In Mexico, the tests required to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis are lengthy, uncomfortable and very expensive. A single ultrasound scan can cost 6,000 Mexican pesos, while a specialized MRI can cost nearly 11,000 Mexican pesos. Roughly speaking, this amounts to around US $1,000 in initial diagnostic costs, depending on whether the tests are performed in the private sector.
Government facilities, such as the Family Medicine Unit (UMF), can take between two and four months just to schedule the tests. Furthermore, this timeframe can vary significantly based on the patient load at your local clinic or the secondary-level hospital to which you are referred, which is why many women prefer to go to private laboratories — when they can afford it.
The examination must be rigorous, as cases of endometriosis have been recorded in which the lesions are also located in the intestines. “That’s why (when I had these tests done), the doctor asked me to take laxatives. My intestines had to be completely empty,” Juliana told MND. In extreme and isolated cases, fragments of endometrium have been found in the lungs and even in the brain of certain patients.
How does the disease impact fertility in Mexico?
After Leticia’s endometrioma was removed, her gynecologist suggested removing one of her ovaries. Since she wanted to get pregnant, she decided to do her own research and consult a doctor specializing in endometriosis, which spared her unnecessary surgery.
Thanks to the recommendation of this new gynecologist, she was able to preserve her ovary and successfully conceive her first daughter.
Given that 1 in 10 women in the country has reported suffering from the disease — translating to at least 7 million patients — diagnosis often takes between 7 and 10 years. Many patients remain unaware of the condition because severe pain is frequently dismissed as ordinary menstrual cramps.
Although it affects about 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide — according to World Health Organization figures — the origin of the disease is still unknown.
Following rigorous examinations, specialists determined that Juliana had Stage 2 endometriosis, with lesions on the fallopian tubes and in key areas that obstruct the passage of the eggs.
Her gynecologist suggested a “protein-based dietary protocol low in sugars and ultra-processed foods,” as well as some supplements. Reyes, for her part, suggests strength training and regular exercise during pregnancy.
Broader demographic shifts and personal outcomes
Mexico’s population surpasses 130 million even as fertility rate falls
Doctors told her at the time that it was common for “the lesions to disappear” during pregnancy due to the hormones the body produces. However, at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, Juliana unfortunately lost the baby.
Endometriosis could be impacting the slowdown in population growth in Mexico. According to the latest figures from INEGI, growth has slowed: The average annual growth rate fell from 1.0% in 2015–2020 to 0.7% in 2020–2025.
This is coupled, of course, with the fact that women are choosing to have babies (if they opt for motherhood at all) later in life, in order to pursue professional and personal growth before committing to supporting a family of their own. Today, per INEGI, Mexico City had the lowest state-level rate, at 0.8 children per woman in 2024.
In contrast, Leticia now has a baby girl under 6 months old. After her pregnancy, she is sticking to a dietary regimen that has alleviated the symptoms. Therefore, she does not consider that “the illness has changed her daily life or future plans.”
The psychological impact
For Juliana, however, the psychological impact of the loss has been considerable. “I didn’t think this would happen to me,” she said. So far, she hasn’t tried to get pregnant again.
Both women agree that they are now more mindful of their diet during their cycle, following the regimens suggested by their respective specialists. As a preventive measure and drawing on her own experience, Leticia strongly suggests “not skipping annual checkups, even if you don’t have symptoms.”
For her, the illness served as motivation to be healthier: “In many ways, I am grateful to have this illness because it changed my habits. I have felt much healthier, and I know my body better now,” she said.
Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.
