Laparoscopy and excision surgery, is it worth it?

[hanybobany]

Hi everyone, I’m at a crossroad in my life. I’m 36 and was able to conceive a child almost 3 years ago. I am now at the point where I am struggling to manage my endo symptoms and the next step is surgery to try and remove the disease which is attached to my uterus, bladder and bowel. I don’t want to reduce the chances of being able to conceive another child in future but need to improve my health in the short term. I have been told that the surgery is risky and that there are potential complications that might arise, particularly surrounding my bowel. I really don’t know what to do. I have managed this pain for years so I know I can manage for a few more or should I take the risk and possibly improve the pain and increase changes of conceiving my second child? (Apparently surgery can help with natural conception which I didn’t know until recently) Any advice would be much my appreciated, I really value others options 😊 TIA

[Snjo]

Hi Hany - I have been diagnosed with endo attached to my colon as well. Surgery to remove will be complicated I'm told with all specialists involved. One of the options suggested are the progesterone injections, you could potentially have this for a short term before trying to conceive?

[Lindle]

The reasons for surgery, and this applies to endo from mild right through to severe, is to relieve pain and or improve fertility. When it comes to pain it is about balancing risks of surgery with your quality of life now. There is always the worry that it might get worse if left, but endo can become non-progressive. The problem is there is no way of predicting this for any individual.

In terms of fertility, severe endo like you have can make natural conception almost impossible as the ovaries will usually be pulled out of place and away from the tubes. There can also be endometriomas which in themselves can reduce ovarian reserve, but surgical removal can as well. I assume you have had scans to confirm your endo situation.

Are you being treated in a specialist endo centre working to BSGE standards as that is where surgery should take place if you decide to go ahead?

[hanybobany in reply to Lindle]

This is really helpful! I am going for an up to date MRI on Friday and then my consultant is scheduled to have a multidisciplinary meeting with the bowel and bladder specialist to see how complicated the surgery might be. From this I should be able to make a more informed decision. I am unsure if the hospital is a specialist endo centre but I assume it is (I will double check this next time I’m there). Thank you for taking the time to respond 😊