Endometriosis and conceiving

[Trillian]

Don't be scared If you are able too, I would definitely try to have a baby now that you have this window of time because despite what your Dr says, endo can defnitely prevent some women getting pg - otherwise all women would fall pg after they have a lap done to remove it wouldn't they? I had a look around and found this info for you too that might make you feel more confident about things

Normally, every month when you have your period, the uterine endometrial lining comes out in your menstrual flow. If you suffer from endometriosis then all the misplaced tissue in your viscera responds to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.

There is a lot of ambivalence over how endometriosis affects a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. But studies have shown that a woman with endometriosis is less likely to conceive than a woman without. Statistics say that 20% of women who have endometriosis and are trying to conceive will not succeed. So, for every 100 women with endometriosis who are trying to conceive, 80 of them will not have problems getting pregnant.
It is also been shown in various other studies that women with endometriosis conceive at lower rates than women without endometriosis and miscarriages are more common in endometriosis patients than in those who do not have the disease. Help is available to these women in the form of surgery where the excess of the tissue is removed from other organs of the viscera. These treatments can be optimized with a combination of good excisional therapy and medical suppressive therapy if there is any suspected residual disease.
If you suffer from mild endometriosis you should continue to attempt pregnancy. Use of ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (Clomid or Serophene) can also help. Also, a technique called washed intrauterine insemination has been shown to improve pregnancy rates in women with endometriosis if given sufficient time without other factors like irregular ovulation, male factors, or cervical factors.
With moderate to severe endometriosis, surgical excision of all the disease with reconstruction and restoration of anatomy has been shown to achieve pregnancy rates that are higher than for untreated women. Some studies have suggested that post-surgical medical suppression with gonadatropin agonists (Lupron, Synarel, Zoladex) will improve pregnancy rates in women with endometriosis. These therapies can also help to relieve pain in endometriosis patients.


Endometriosis can be extremely frustrating for a woman who is trying to conceive. This is because endometriosis is known to cause infertility. Some studies even suggest that endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility. However, with specific treatments, fertility difficulties due to endometriosis can often be addressed. Endometriosis as a cause of infertility is often easier to address than other causes of infertility.
Many women with endometriosis will have no problems with fertility. But for some women who struggle with fertility because of endometriosis, surgery may provide them with an opportunity to conceive. By removing the endometriosis that has currently built up, their reproductive system can be cleared up enough for them to become pregnant and have their baby. While it is true that endometriosis will most likely return provided that a woman still has her uterus and ovaries, removing it can provide a window of opportunity. For women who have not had success with surgery, other fertility aids such as IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in-vitro fertilization) may be options.

And check out the Assisted conception forums here on BB too - there is a wealth of information already posted and many women who have been through the various methods and they will be able to answer your questions for you.

[lisi_lou85]

thanks so much for the info I am trying really hard to stay positive.. hopefully i wil get that good news i have been waiting for but if not i will try other option i suppose. We are trying now they said the next 6 months is the window of opportunity so if it doesnt happen then i hae to go back to discuss other options.. That information is really helpful. Thanks again

[lisi_lou85]

hey guys just wondering it has been 2 months since my surgery and im pretty certain the endo is back already is this common? and what do i do?? im very upset

[Cassius2]

Hi Lisi!

It is possible that is back but i would hazard nowhere near the same level that it was.

BUT i think more likely is what i experienced of the odd cycle where the symptoms of endo (after i had recovered extensively) would flare up. i found that on reflection it was related to some of the contributing factors (ie, too much caffeine, stress even at times, DTD on ovulation day itms) that can enhance the pain etc.

I can highly recommend checking out a thread in this section on the natural/accompanying therapies for women with endo. homeopathy was my answer and cure (this was after AC was considered my only option) and was able to thankfully fall pg without outside assistance.

every woman's journey is different, so i recommend that you take notice of all the changes and trust in your instincts regarding the endo, if you believe that something isnt sitting right get it checked out. but TBH i would probably give it another cycle and see if cutting down on the caffeine during key times in your cycle (ie Ovulation and AF)...particularly coke (i found this to be the worst for my pain funnily enough).

[lisi_lou85]

thanks Cassius2 I just feel like i hae no1 here to talk to about it going to go to a diff gyn not entirely happy with the one that did the surgery. i have wanted to look into natural therapies but have no idea where to start or what to do and the unknown is a little scary. I dont no anyone else who has done any of this so noone can gove me advice or direction

[firemansgirl]

Hey Lisi.. don't be scared hun.. I too used to have painful periods for about the first 3-4 months AFTER a lap, then they would settle right down. They do alot of pulling, moving things around in there, and it can take a while for things to settle!

Maybe you could check out the ECCA website (endometriosis care centre Australia) and see if they have specialists in perth or find someone who specialises alot in endo. The best way to remove endo is via the 'iceburg technique' sounds like something crazy from the Titanic right? Nah, what they do is instead of burning the endo off which leaves all the 'roots' behind, they 'cut' it out instead. The name iceburg relates to the way the endo grows. It grows like a cancer (although I promise you it isn't) so it has roots like a tree that grow deep down. Burning only takes the top layers off and leaves the roots behind. Using the 'cutting' out method takes the lot so that recurrence of endo is dramatically decreased!

If you check out Prof Michael Coopers website, he explains this technique really well.

I hope I have instilled some confidence and eleveated some fear from you

xo

[lisi_lou85]

thaanks friemansgirl im in sydney though not perth :P i just feel im so ready to have a baby and everything that can go wrong is but will def look at that site!

[firemansgirl]

Sorry Lisi.. don't know why I thought you were in Perth... Prof Michael Cooper has rooms in Macquarie Street Sydney. Maybe you could make an appt with him or one of his other collegues that specialise in extreme case endo? Don't worry I had grade 5 endo the worst of the worst.. over my bowel, bladder and reproductive system. It took awhile to clear it all up, but in the end we were blessed...

[lisi_lou85]

thanks firemans girl. I am going to try a specialist in ingleburn i have heard some good things about him so fingers crossed r u in syd too? glad to hear ur story had a happy ending

[firemansgirl]

No I am not in Sydney any more, however I still travel on a 1 hour plane flight to see prof Cooper every year for my check ups! Good luck with your specialist.

[lisi_lou85]

ok so the surgery was unsuccessful my endo is back already but I have been put on clomid and diaformin. Has anyone else been on these and do ovulation and preg tests still work when these drugs r being taken??

[Cassius2]

i'm afraid that i dont know much about the diaformin. the clomid still allows pg tests to work...but that's as far as i know i'm afraid.

i am really sorry to hear that the surgery was successful. it's such a tricky thing (the endo), but always keep in mind that allow it can make the TTC journey harder, it doesnt make it impossible. big phat

[Razzberry]

Hi Lisi_Lou85 - I have just been reading through your other posts. My heart is breaking for you, because I know some of what you are feeling.

When you say that the surgery was unsuccessful do you mean that they were unble to get it all out? Or the fact that you havent fallen yet? How do you know the endo it back? did hey do another lap? The reason I am asking this is because after my lap to remove endo I though he must not have got it all, because my cramps were just as severe as before the surgery. My Gyn told me that sometimes the surgery doesnt take away all the symptoms and that I have a very irritable uterus which is used to cramping.

Are your cycles regular? If not is this why you are on the clomid? as I was on it to make me ovulate (not cause f endo but because I was also diagnosed with PCOS).

Once my endo was removed we were told to start trying immediatelt to give ourselves the best shot at conceiving which we did, but then when I came off the pill (which I'd been on for years to control my cycles as such bad cramping) I didn't have a period for 76 days, and the next cycle was 50 odd days. They did blood tests and it showed I was not ovulating and had wacky hormone levels that indicated PCOS, then had an ultrasound which confirmed the PCOS and not ovulating.

The gyn prescribed clomid to make me ovulate and was going to do blood tests to check if I was ovulating. Before I could start the clomid I had a Blood test just to make sure I hadn't just ovulated (or was pregnant) - and I was, but sadly lost tha baby at 8 weeks.

I was then told to wait till my next cycle to start the clomid - I waited almost about 10 weeks and called my gyno to say I was STILL waiting and so he put me on the mini pill for 7 days to induce a period and then commenced the clomid -which was sucessful first go. I was told not to even bother with the OPK sticks and to DTD every 2nd day from day 10-20 and then I had a blood test day 21 to see if it had made me ovulate (which I had) and then I did a HPT on day 25 and got my BFP which resulted in my DD

So, to cut a long story short, I thought the endo was what was going to stop me having a baby but it ended up being the PCOS which was overcome but using the clomid.

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask me

[lisi_lou85]

hi erybery,

The Suregry was unsuccessful as they missed some and it grew back with a vengonce

I have been put on the clomid as I have also been diagnosed with PCOS and was not ovulating properly. (which sounds similiar to what happened to you?). My ovulation level was 9 and its meant to be between 80 and 200. after my 1st month of clomid on 100mg it it was up to 69 so then for month 2 i was on 150 mg and went up to 179 which is great but my period was 10 days late and a long cycle is not good So just waiting for my next appointment to find out what happens there..

So i start month 3 of clomid 1again 150mg on monday.. its starting to really affect my emotions and stuff though getting a bit worried. Also looking into other options just in case like IUI, GIFT, IVF and surrogacy..

erybery where r u from????