Polyp, possible endometriosis, fertility worries

[PinkPink29]

Hello, I joined this forum a couple of months ago and have found it a huge comfort to read about other people’s experiences, so thank you for that. This is the first time I’ve posted but I have so much going round in my head I feel like it’s a good place to share my story as I don’t have anyone I can really talk to.

So, I’ve just turned 38 and a few months ago I started getting excruciating period pains for 1-2 days at the start of my period along with sharp shooting pains in my back passage and feeling faint and tingly. I went straight to my doctor as myself and my fiancé were only months away from planning on trying to conceive so I was worried from that perspective as well as the debilitating pain. I’ve not had painful periods before but they’ve always been irregular and heavy. The doctor was great and refered me for an ultrasound and to gynocology. I got appointments for both quickly, within a couple of months. At the time my GP had mentioned endometriosis and the more I read about it the more I was convinced that was the cause of the pain. I had a TV ultrasound and was surprised it showed a uterine polyp so I now have to have a hysteroscopy. The gynocologist also said they would do a diagnostic laparoscopy at the same time and remove if any endometriosis found.

I know from reading other stories and experiences just how lucky I am to have been seen so quickly after the pains started but I have so many questions and concerns.

Firstly, the hospital I am under is not listed on BSGE website, and no specialist endo gynocologists are there. I asked my GP to transfer my care to the local hospital that is more specialist however the wait list for there is huge and I’ve still not heard a thing from them. Do I go ahead where I am with both procedures or wait for who knows how long?

We have started TTC for the last two months as we delayed our wedding to July 2022 due to Covid. I feel under so much pressure to conceive before this summer to not be pregnant on my wedding day and if I have to wait for the other hospital I know unless I conceive naturally (which I don’t even know if this is possible with the polyp and likely endo) I will then be 39 1/2 by the time I’m married and I’m petrified that this will make IVF less effective due to my age. I feel so hopeless because I can’t see there being a positive outcome from this. What are other people’s experiences of TTC with polyp/possible endo?

Also, I’ve noticed changes with my periods since coming off the pill a year ago. For years before I went on the pill (in Jan 2019), my periods were very irregular (35-50 day cycles) but for the last year have been much more regular and also shorter cycles (31-37 days) This also concerns me because I worry about early menopause and don’t know why this would start happening. It’s great when tracking to try to conceive but disconcerting at the same time. Is this a thing that happens or changes with age? Has this happened to anyone else?

Finally (sorry I know it’s a lot!) I’m considering looking into private treatment and wondered what your experiences of this are?

It would be great to hear any advice or your own experiences that may support me in making any decisions or with my journey through this. Thank you for reading.

[USgalwthendo]

Hello. Just wanted to send some support your way. I would encourage you to go with your gut on where and how you get your care. If you think there is endo and you are 38 and want a baby then go with the best care. It would be ideal to get a specialist but not if the wait is 2 years. As women it’s tough as we just dont have time On our side for making babies, even without illness. A friend of mine conceived with endo and pcos. She was 42 at the time. Had healthy twins via IVF. You may be successful conceiving naturally and when you want (around your wedding). But then again you my not. There are just some things out of our control. Age is one of them. I did delay having a baby until age 30 due to wanting a great job and home situation as well as being married. Then I tried to conceive and it didn’t happen. Found out endo stage 4 at age 33. At that point I wished I hadn’t worried so much about getting everything just right before having kids. My motivation was simply that I grew up poor and single parent home and watched my mom struggle and I wanted better for my future children. Nothing wrong with that. Thought I was doing the right thing. There were moments I regretted not having kids at 18 like most of my friends. It was so crazy how i tried to not get pregnant for years only to find out when I wanted to I couldn’t. There went all my responsible adult plans lol. But I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Thankfully things turned out good for me. But it was very shocking at the time I was going through all that. And overwhelming and yes a little sad too. I just encourage you to be your own best advocate with the medical community and make the best decisions you can. A lot of people go on to conceive naturally with endo and other issues. So good luck to you. And congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Very exciting!

Also as far as cycle length mine is always around 25 days and hasn’t changed in over a decade I have a luteal phase defect which is fairly common in people with endo

[PinkPink29 in reply to USgalwthendo]

Thank you USgal for your reply and your kind and reassuring words! I completely relate to what you say about wanting to do things right and be in the best position before starting a family and like you I wish I had just gone for it sooner (although didn’t meet my other half till 35 so I’d still be a little late!) As I’ve only had pains for a few months I’d have had no idea there might be a problem. So in a way the pain is good because it has prompted me to get help and will hopefully be sorted quicker now.

I’m so glad to hear things worked out for you in the end and it’s good to hear that there are success stories like with your friend. Did you have IVF in the end?

Your advice about how to deal with the medical side of things is so useful too. I need to be strong and fight for myself, but it’s so hard with the emotional feelings and my inner voice telling me I need to get myself better right away. The not knowing is agonising.

Thanks again for responding 🙂

[USgalwthendo in reply to PinkPink29]

I did not do ivf. I adopted my son 3 days after he was born. Once I held him I didn’t care about any past decisions and had no regrets. But at the time I was diagnosed with endo it was the worst time for me. So much agonizing not knowing. And wishing I had done things differently. I researched ivf and decided that at my position in life i could try it but then if I not successful I’d be older and more in debt and then also take the risk that ivf doesn’t work, what if my husband was too emotionally tired to try adoption next? Ivf is costly where I live as is adoption and neither are a guarantee there will be a baby at the end so I had to make a very tough choice. Now I know I wouldn’t have it differently but I had no way to know back then. I guess that’s life for ya! I agree, it’s very hard not knowing. I like answers. Plans and research. I would get my hands on every ivf, endo, and adoption type books and read them voraciously, like I could somehow get an answer. At first I worried about the unknowns of adoption. But even those who have no fertility issues can have hardships and surprises with their pregnancy’s and bio children. I reminded myself of that when I chose adoption. my son Is five now and so beautiful my heart aches. So it turned out awesome for me for sure. But I won’t ever forget there were some very dark days there for awhile. I did reach out to 2people I could vent all to and that helped tremendously. I joined this forum not long ago to support others with endo as it’s still rearing it’s ugly head. Hang in there 😀