Surgery - Stage 4 - Increase in fertility?

[Behind_Hazel_Eyes]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience of egg quality increasing after surgery?

I have stage 4 endo with kissing ovaries. I went through a round of private ivf, they could only access a small part of one of my ovaries because they were kissing and unfortunately the 2 eggs they managed to retrieve died the next day. I was told they were dark in colour. I was a slow responder to the stims but had hoped my eggs would be a decent quality. I was devastated because I had made massive changes to my diet and health. Losing over 13 stone through healthy eating and exercise in the last 15 months. I also took all the recommend supplements like ubiquinol and DHA.

I have only ever had a diagnostic lap done, back in 2017. At the time I didn’t even know what endo was and the surgeons were not specialists, they drained a large cyst I had and ended up hitting my bladder on the way out. Which meant I had to have a catheter for 2 weeks to let it heal. I was told at the time that I was very stuck together. Since then other tests and scans have shown that my tubes are abnormally shaped but patent, although it now looks like one may have some fluid in it.

I feel I have no choice but to seek surgery and have seen a consultant privately who has scheduled me for a mri next month. I am just wondering if anyone saw an improvement in egg quality after surgery for stage 4? Did anyone have any success naturally or with ivf?

[MD54999]

Hey, My egg quality improved after surgery for Stage 4 Endo when I did my last round of IVF, I only had low quality embryos before this. I only got one embryo (I've only ever had 1-2 viable embryos from a round) but having a good quality embryo was a huge boost, even though it ultimately didn't result in pregnancy. Also my AMH only slightly decreased, which can be a concern with surgery. I'm sorry to hear your IVF was unsuccessful, it's a really tough journey x

[Behind_Hazel_Eyes in reply to MD54999]

Hi! Thats very encouraging that your egg quality improved! Gives me hope 🙂 I am sorry that it was unsuccessful. Fingers crossed the next round works for you. It is really hard but hopefully we both get there in the end 🤞x

[JOSANDY40]

Well yes and no? My right ovary I'd had many surgeries. Both tubes werid. The left ovary wasn't connected yet I had a grapefruit sized cyst on it once. They reconnected the left tube making it in a straight line. I had the Operation Privately. I tried the IVF. The left ovary produced good eggs but the right produced eggs that cell division was wrong. I made 5 good eggs, 3 were frozen. The IVF went well but I did suffer headaches, bad moods even anger! Unfortunately I was allergic to the drugs afterwards, was in terrible pain 48hrs after implant and started pushing hard which I couldn't stop.

It took me months to recover. Certainly upset me and I became depressed. The depression wasn't to do with failure it was hormone imbalance. My Endometriosis was full on. Still moody. I couldn't face the experience again.

My eggs I gave away in hope they helped someone.

I am glad now that it didn't work as my husband left and with having Endometriosis so bad I realise I couldn't bring children up by myself.

It's been very hard on my own. More cysts, growths in the womb and now Ulcerative Colitis.

Today I am on a positive note going on a 1st date in 12 mths !

I wish all of us well with this terrible illness.

I am sure if a man experienced this disease it would be fixed by now!

x

[Behind_Hazel_Eyes in reply to JOSANDY40]

My goodness you have been through a lot! Endo is an awful disease, it robs us all of so much! No one can truely understand what its like unless they suffer from it. I am sorry to hear you had such a bad reaction to the drugs and you are still suffering badly from the endo. Giving away the eggs is such a lovely, selfless gesture. I am sure it helped someone else out there. Good luck on your date. I hope it goes well x

[Valen92]

Hi there! I also have stage 4 endometriosis. I had two large endometriomas (one on each ovary), so kissing ovaries as well. I did all the changes I had to naturally as you mentioned (diet + supplements) and had an excision surgery with an endo specialist. I waited 6 months before jumping into IVF and had great results. (I now have a 7 week old ) I never tried IVF before my surgery but I know the results would have not been the same without removing those toxics cysts from my ovaries. My egg reserve did go down but quality over quantity!

[Behind_Hazel_Eyes in reply to Valen92]

Many congratulations! That gives me such hope. I am so glad everything worked out for you 🙂 x

[HopefulKay in reply to Valen92]

That's brilliant, congratulations! Are you able to give more detail on what your IVF protocol was? I've heard that frozen transfer with down regulation is helpful. Did you also do any immunology testing and treatments for that ahead of implantation?