advice from anyone with ENDO

[Jamaica]

All the women in my family (Nan, Mum and sister) suffer from Endo. My mum and nan both had full hysterectomys before they were 25! Ive always had servere period pain and O pain (worse than my labour pain) & the month I fell pregnant with DD I was scheduled to go in for the procedure to see if I had endo so I have never been diagnosed but have a strong feeling that I probably too have it. Ive spoke with my Dr and he said that if we hit the 12month mark and still havent conceived he will send me for the endo test then. Im just wondering what are the chances that if I do have it that it would affect my fertility? Is fertility problems a sign of endo?
thanks ladies.

[KatiesMum]

Hi Jamaica

Yes if you have endo then the chances are it will affect your fertility ....


Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue (the lining in your uterus that builds up for implantation each cycle, and disperses in your af) forms and grows outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity. The tissue still disperses with each af, and can form ovarian cysts (common) or adhesions onto ovaries, tubes, intestines, kidney and other organs in the immediate area. The tissue is like a spider web, and sometimes causes organs to stick together and stuff. Sometimes women get a lot of pain, heavy periods etc - but sometimes there are no symptoms... even with severe endo. Sometimes with severe endo / adhesions the removal of the endo causes scarring and other damage.

TTC with endo is an interesting one ... as it varies a bit. Everything I read when I was diagnosed said basically if you have endo, the chances are you will not be able to conceive until the endo is removed - however I have read a number of cases of women with endo who have had no real problems conceiving so who knows.

They dont really know why it hinders conception, but is a major cause of infertility.

Also interestingly enough, many women conceive naturally within 3-6 months after having the endo removed via a lap.

So - the advice from your dr is sound. Wait and see if you conceive naturally (especially as you did recently conceive so chances are pretty good that you will again). If not - then have the lap.

Good luck :hugs:

[LittleOldMe]

I had a lap in March and they found a small ammount of endo. I only went to the doctor cause my AF pains where getting worse and i was one of those girls that got no pain at all!
The last two months the pain has been horrible and i'm due to see my gyno next month about getting it lasered off!
But thankfully it hasnt been bad this month! I've been TTC since about Feb or so and still nothing but then again i don't chart or temp and to be honest i didn't even really know when the right and wrong time to BD was till i came on here lol!
Good luck but prob best to get it looked at! Can't hurt! :hugs:

[2Pink4Me]

Hi Jamaica :wave:

Just thought i'd put what I understand in.

It is my understanding (i've had endo diagnosed for a few years now) that it doesn't cause infertility but a huge amount (like 40%) of people with fertility issues also have endometriosis.

Endo is also one of those funny things that no matter who you see you will find conflicting advice etc.

I was told that I would probably have a heap of trouble conceiving but as soon as I had an implanon removed I was UTD (i listened to them and wasn't 'careful' so it was a huge shock!). I then was told that I should be pg with number two quickly and we are now 7 cycles (6 months in). :rolleyes:

If you have endo then yep you may have trouble conceiving but you also may not.

:hugs: it's a yuck thing to have to think about but i spose the thing you have going in your favour is that you have already conceived naturally.

:fingerscrossed: you get your BFP soon and don't have to go down that path.