Laparoscopy affect ovarian reserve

[Cariad82]

Hi

I'm now on here but can't seem to find the answer to my question on fertility boards and so I'm hoping there are more people with experience of this on this board.

I have suspected endo and have a lap and hysteroscopy in a few weeks to confirm. I have had 3 failed IVF's and am a poor responder to the IVF drugs - they've only managed to collect 3 eggs in 3 cycles. However my AMH is 16 so there's no obvious reason why this is the case. I've had loads of investigations and they have finally come to the conclusion it looks like endo.

I have read studies showing that removal of endo during a laparoscopy can affect egg reserve. Does anyone have any personal experience of this? I am feeling basically petrified now that they have finally found a cause for our infertility and will treat it but it's going to leave me with no eggs and no chance of having my own baby.

[Rehanat]

Hey- I didn’t want to read & run but if you have surgery with a skilled endo surgeon then they do their best to protect your fertility. I had a laparoscopy in 2015 where they removed cysts on both ovaries and I still conceived albeit 3yrs after. I have just had another in March and the consultant has given me a year to conceive which I’m hoping will happen ! Altho it can affect fertility if ur amh is good it shouldn’t reduce it too much xx

[Christin_a]

Hello

My understanding is it depends on where the endometriosis is as to if removing it could have an effect on your fertility. Some areas such as the ovaries are a higher risk but the surgeon should be a specialist and know if your main concern is preserving fertility and therefor can make the appropriate decisions during surgery. If your worried about this make sure during consultation with them that you make it clear. As for some women with endo reducing symptoms can be more important than fertility, so having this clarification is important.

If its found in other areas such as the UV fold (a bit between your uterus and bladder) removal from here shouldn't to my knowledge effect your fertility.

[Lilac12]

Hi,

i know this is a bit late but i was petrified too that my surgery would affect my ovarian reserve. I had cysts in both my ovaries, and my antral follicle count wasn't great. 2 in the left and 8 in the right. I had my AMH done which was 18.3. I was told removing the cysts could bring AMH lower, but i was also told it could bring it higher as the cysts could be pressing on my follicles which is why they didn't show up on my scan. After my surgery my AMH went up to 23.5. So it actually helped my AMH count and there were more folliciles visible in each ovary too. 7 in my left and 12 on the right.