Trying to get pregnant after diagnosis?

[Endo_This]

Hi all, I am new around here and so have many, many questions but my main one at the moment being - have any of you tried to get pregnant following diagnosis of endo?

I have been going to the doctors (various different GPs) for over 10 years with abdominal pain, discomfort, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, depression, pain with sex, extreme pain with bowel movements and just generally feeling like rubbish all the time and been fobbed off every time with different reasons. From you are stressed to you have an STI! I have finally been taken seriously after saying I am trying for a family and my periods have changed ....

After a year of waiting for appts, I had an exploratory laparoscopy and cystoscopy about 4 weeks ago. They have found endo on my bladder, adhesions, cysts and my right Fallopian tube is attached to my bowel. Believe it or not, I cried with happiness when I found out... I was tired, drugged up and relieved that I wasn’t going mad after being made to feel like I was making it all up.

Anyway, I have since had an MRI and now have an appt with the consultant in Feb but what I would like to know is, should I continue to avoid having unprotected sex? I feel so angry and frustrated that I have got to the age of 34 only to be told I have this chronic disease that could affect my fertility. If I did happen to get pregnant that would be amazing and the endo treatment can wait until afterwards???? Am I being naive or is this a way I can try to take control back?

Any advice or thoughts are welcome! sorry for the long post!

[Hidden]

Right after surgery is the perfect time to start TTC, assuming they removed as much endo as they could. Even if they didn’t remove anything, there is no harm in starting to try right now. The best that can happen is that you’ll fall pregnant. The worst than can happen is that you won’t. I was infertile due to my tubes being twisted and bent with endo.

Have you been TTC in the past?

[Endo_This in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, that’s what I am thinking. I have been feeling so ill and low worrying about being ill. Now I know it is due to the endo I feel so much better mentally. It’s amazing how the mind makes you focus on the pain and think the worst.

We started TTC in January this year and in March I didn’t have a period. This has never happened in my life so I obviously started to get stressed (negative pregnanacy test). That combined with the constant abdominal pain and other things made me go to the doctors yet again and explain. She suggested fibroids but a scab in june picked up a lesion on my bladder. We stopped TTC then because had no idea what the lesion was. Here I am almost a year later and just want to try again before I get any older ...!

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Endo_This]

I agree with jugheadjane, now if the perfect time to try xx

[Endo_This in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thank you, my husband will be happy if this happens as I have been avoiding sex all together!

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Endo_This]

My poor husband has to accept that sex takes place in one position only, and often involves me asking him to reposition slightly mid-way!!!

[Hidden in reply to Endo_This]

Did they remove the endo they found during your exploratory lap?

[Endo_This in reply to Hidden]

No, unfortunately not. I have had an MRI since so think they must think it’s deep I have an appt in Feb following their multi disciplinary meeting. I do have concerns about their findings but also don’t want to keep putting everything on hold just because there’s such a gap between appointments. I have no idea whether I am infertile or not at this stage and that sucks. How have you coped with your situation? Guess I just want to try and cling on to that hope. I think I will call the hospital next week and ask for their advice.

[Hidden in reply to Endo_This]

Since you were only TTC for 2-3 months this year before stopping, I definitely wouldn’t jump to you being infertile. Start taking a prenatal vitamin and start trying again now. I recommend using ovulation strips to be sure you’re hitting your fertile window. I use Ovia fertility app, too, because it’s an easy way to keep track of everything.

We stopped TTC when I got my diagnosis. They removed a lot of endo during my lap, including a huge amount from my uterus. I had a vertical incision and stitches from the top of my uterus all the way down to my bladder from where they removed endo. I want to give my uterus time to heal well before TTC again.

[Endo_This in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the advice, I will look into the ovulation strips. You are right, I am going to stay positive and hopefully when it comes to my consultation in February I can explain my focus is pregnancy rather than pain relief and they will support me with that. I wish you a speedy recovery, it sounds like you have a lot of healing to do x

[Hidden in reply to Endo_This]

I recommend making an appointment with a Reproductive Endocrinologist (fertility doctor), too. Just to cover all bases. They may have more advice for you re getting pregnant with endometriosis.

[Endo_This in reply to Hidden]

Thank you <3