IVF before Laparoscopy

[xrachx9]

Hello

I have just been put on the waiting list for a laparoscopy (will be my second) with overall aim being to conceive

As waiting times are really long I'm thinking of going through IVF privately (already have a child after my first lap).

Has anyone had IVF success before having a laparoscopy or is it pointless until after?

Thanks

[Roobs33]

Hey,

I can’t answer your question but am in a similar position. I’ve had a laparoscopy to remove stage 4 endo but I still have it fusing my bowel to my uterus. I have one child and have been trying to conceive a second for a long time now. I want to try IVF soon but am wondering if I need to have the bowel surgery first or if it won’t affect it too much. My consultant was surprised that I managed to conceive a child in the first place as all my tubes were blocked, but I guess that gradually got worse after having my daughter. I’m waiting to speak to my consultant to ask what she advises. You could always ask the fertility clinic as they will do tests on you first anyway. I think I might do this as I’m worried that my endometriosis is already getting worse 6 months after surgery so need to act quickly. How long ago did you have your child? Wishing you loads of luck and hope you get some guidance. X

[xrachx9 in reply to Roobs33]

Thanks for replying! I was trying for 2 year, then had laparoscopy (stage 4) in April 2018 then conceived 4 months after that so have a 2 year old! Been trying for a year again so thinking it's the same problem. Its tough to know what affect the endometriosis will have on the ivf. My consultant has referred me for an MRI so I'm hoping that will give me some kind of idea.

How old is your first? Have you been trying long? Did you have your laparoscopy after having a baby?

Best of luck meeting your consultant, hopefully you get some answers! Xx

[Roobs33 in reply to xrachx9]

It’s so tricky isn’t it, as I think MRI scans don’t always show the extent of endometriosis but I think they are able to pick up on how the lesions might move or warp the organs. I wish I could’ve had that before the laparoscopy so that the bowel endo could’ve been picked up beforehand. My GP suggested that my tubes might be blocked in which case IVF would be my only option. But my consultant thought that they were clear after the surgery. My daughter is 3 and I didn’t realise I even had endo until last September. But looking back some of the problems I have had sort of made more sense! I’ve been trying for about a year and half. I would’ve tried sooner had I known that I had endo. I hope that you won’t have to wait long for you MRI. I am tempted to see my consultant privately as I called the hospital and it didn’t even seem like I was on the list to be seen. It’s so hard to get things done via the NHS at the moment. Wishing you loads of luck and let me know how you get on. If I find out any relevant info I can let you know x

[xrachx9 in reply to Roobs33]

Was your bowel endo missed on your original laparoscopy?

I might be worth you having a private consultation as they can then move you onto the NHS waiting list. Hopefully you can conceive naturally again as you have before xx

[Roobs33 in reply to xrachx9]

No they found the bowel endo during the laparoscopy but they said it would require more extensive surgery. Such as a bowel resection and I would need a bowel surgeon present too. My consultant that I went private with, also works at my local nhs hospital, which is why I chose to go with her. She’s also an endo specialist. But because I went private I’m now having to go over stuff with my GP. I was told that I would be put back onto the NHS waiting list for a 6 month follow up and have been chasing it up but not having much luck. I’m tempted to have a private consultation and MRI so that I can decide what to do about fertility treatment. And get this done at the private hospital. The costs all start mounting up though. I hope you get some advice and don’t have to wait too long for your laparoscopy xx

[Dinah_lady]

Hello. I wanted to join this thread as it caught my eye. I was diagnosed with endo about 12 yrs ago. The hospital wouldn’t do a laparoscopy as they said my symptoms indicated that it was too far spread to operate and risky (inc in my bladder). Instead, I had Zoladax for 18 months and that was successful in calming it all down. Now I am 41- ttc- 2 rounds of unsuccessful ivf. Poor response to stims, poor number of egg (despite reasonable AMH & follicles).

Private consultant said endo has likely affected egg quality and also my ovaries are stuck high and really tricky to access.

He says I could consider a laparoscopy to release the ovaries a bit.

The thing is, my endo does not bother me much at all these days and I worry that a laparoscopy might actually disturb everything that is settled and healed (although stuck)! Any thoughts?!

[Roobs33 in reply to Dinah_lady]

Heya,

It’s so tricky to work out what is best to do, and really the drs should be giving us advice. I think sometimes with endometriosis they really don’t know. Is your private consultant well trained in endometriosis? I have been worried that further surgery would decrease chances of conception but I have read on here that a number of women have had 2 or 3 surgeries and that had helped them to conceive as all the endometriosis had been cleared out. I think laparoscopy is meant to be the best treatment for it too, and it can diagnose what stage etc you are, and then you can decide on the best treatment going forward. I had everything cleared out all around my ovaries and tubes (which were all stuck together). They said that there was no way of being able to conceive in the state that everything was in. I have it on my bowel so need to have that sorted out as I think it can end up damaging organs. Im thinking I will need to start IVF soon, do you have any advice on things that might be useful to know? Sorry I don’t feel like I can give very good advice. I’ve just started acupuncture to help with fertility but am very new to it. Wishing you all the luck and I hope you get some good advice. I think if things aren’t working then trying something different is all you can do xx

[Dinah_lady]

Thanks so much for replying. You’ve clearly been through a lot yourself and obviously still are. It’s all so tricky, isn’t it 🙈! My original gynae who diagnosed me 12 yrs ago was an endo specialist. By chance, she was who I ended up seeing again (nhs) around 3 yrs ago. She said that she remembered me as bladder endo was so rare to be diagnosed all those yrs ago and she remembered the pain I was having (good memory)!

She still assumed that my endo was in numerous places but she recommended I go straight to ivf which is what I did. I had a cycle last year and ICSI this year. I am now 41. I only got 2 eggs first time and 1 this time. A couple fertilised but none survived for an embryo transfer. So, I have nothing to freeze/bank. Frustrating as I have a decent AMH for my age.

Nobody has really pushed me towards a laparoscopy until the recent consultation, maybe as my symptoms are so few and easily managed with diet etc. I am not sure how much this dr knows about endo, although he is a very good fertility specialist and did my egg collections.

I did acupuncture for my first ivf round.

I took additional supplements for my 2nd... but it didn’t seem to make much difference.

I would recommend joining the Fertility Network UK group here on Health Unlocked. Amazing group of ladies that know sooooo much about ivf.

My biggest piece of advice is to go to your gp and ask them for you to be referred for ivf and get initial fertility tests done through your gp (AMH, FSH etc). They will have a list of what to do. The nhs waiting times can be long, so the sooner you are on the list the better.

I had one nhs ivf cycle and then a private ICSI cycle. I Just need to figure out what to do next. Difficult when age is not on my side. I totally agree that I wish someone years ago had given me more advice/info on options. I would have done egg freezing in my 30s to give me a better chance.

Anyway, we can only look ahead and move forward ... I wish you all the best x x