Endo, lap and IVF

[Bluebells86]

Hi everyone, in about 2 months I should be getting my first laparoscopy and then after that me and my partner (male) will be going through IVF. I have a couple of questions that I wondered if any of you might know from your own experiences - 1. After the lap I won't go on any kind of endo-preventative treatment (pill/coil) because of us trying to get pregnant but presuming they find endo and remove it, how quickly will it return because I'm worried about just going round in circles.2. Can anyone recommend some good books or websites about improving chances of conception with endo?

Thanks in advance x

[Elsidee11]

hi bluebells, I’m currently going through ivf. It starts with the egg is a very good book. Start preparing early with diet and supplements. Good luck x

[Bluebells86 in reply to Elsidee11]

Ah thank you, I'd seen that so I'll have a closer look 😊 there's so much information out there it's hard to know what's helpful and what's not without spending a fortune! Good luck to you too x

[Granolak]

Ive heard of nupogen from Adelaide White. She is on Instagram and Tiktok. Also look into accupuncture and wet cupping. Best of luck!!!

[Bluebells86 in reply to Granolak]

Aah thank you, I'll have a look for her. I'm in the process of getting some acupuncture sorted too 😊

[Endrocoops]

My husband and I went through the same process. So hopefully my experience can help a little! Sorry the information below is a little over the shop I’m just typing as I remember

I had surgery initially in October 2022 to remove stage 4 endro and two 5cm endrometrial cysts and waited until janruary to let my body heal up. (Ended up delaying further for work reasons but doc was happy for me to go ahead as early as jan) During this wait period the doctor had me on a period blocker but this period blocking pill on its own is not an effective contraception so it apparently didn’t put my body out of wack ready for our IVF rounds. I also started my prenatal two weeks after my surgery in preparation for my IVF. Book in with your IVF team who will set you up a meeting with the doc and they can discuss all of this with you prior and prescribe you any meds and they will let you know the time lines for the day you stop taking your period blocking meds est. They have a process for people on hormonal contraception and those not for example for me they wanted me to stop taking this period blocker on X day and do a blood test three days later it’s all very militant with dates and times so best to let them worry about it

I know it’s probably no help saying out loud but just encase. My tubes were apparently stuffed with endo and my surgeon gave them a good floss and we ended up succeeding naturally. BUT my surgeon was adamant that we didn’t try naturally for more than three cycles! She said “at your stage you can’t afford any more than three cycles off.” We didn’t initially plan to risk it as my endo was already burrowing into my colon. But as I needed to last min push back my IVF start date I was already off that months period blocker and I didn’t want to waste my “safer month” and not try. My biggest bit of advice if you do go down this “try before IVF” method is to set a hard limit on how long you let yourself cycle, because it will be hard not to say “oh just one more try!” And to be wise with your limited cycles, spend the extra on hormone trackers for your fertility window, eat wel, rest up.

My IVF doc also had my husband not drink from the moment we got in touch with them apparently it does affect mens sperm and well if we manage it for months on end it’s the least he can do for a short time. (Our doc said the ideal is 6 months off the booze for men but said every little helps so my husband was off it for three months.)

And finally if it helps we used the company CareFertility they had the best package deals in my area and were not upset or fussy about my refund when we cancelled on them. (They take both NHS and private)

Best of Luck!!!

[Bluebells86 in reply to Endrocoops]

Aah thank you for taking the time to do that reply ☺️ it's really helpful to know a bit more of the ins and outs, no one gives you a manual and although I'm not trying to look too far ahead, I can't help wondering about some things. We're going with care fertility too!

Thanks again 😊

[Valen92]

Hi! I also had a lap before going into IVF. I wasn’t on any sort of medication or birth control afterwards. If your surgeon is a true endometriosis expert, endometriosis should not come back that quick. I had a very aggressive case of endo and waited 6 months before starting IVF and there were no signs of endo! Best of luck to you and your husband!

[Bluebells86 in reply to Valen92]

Thank you 😊 it's reassuring to know there are people out there who have been through similar. It's weird that it effects so many people but I'm the only person I know.