Endometrioma removal in ovary and egg reserve. Advise needed

[boboveena28]

Hi all, need some advice. Have been dealing with chronic left side pelvic pain for almost a year. It started off a few days pain during ovulation which became close to 2 weeks now. The worst part was when I did my first ivf stim, I was in so much pain that I took time off work and was in bed rest till egg retrieval. The pain also goes to my back and anorectal area where I can't even sit.

My ivf gynae found the cyst but he didn't mention surgery to me. He wanted me to do the implantation first as surgery would affect egg quantity and quality. Just so you know, during ivf only 1 egg fertilised. So as it is, my egg quality is alrdy down the drain even after taking coq10.

I then seeked second option yesterday and I have been strongly advised to go for surgery to remove the cyst. Its 5.1cm at the left ovary. The gynae felt that quality of life should come first before TTC. And cysts can affect those. But he did warn me that egg quality and quantity may be compromised after this. He said the cyst is also the reason why I was in debilitating pain during ivf stim. I'm so confused. I want to go for the surgery but the fact that my egg reserves would be reduced is worrying me. At the same time, I can't deal with this pain especially if I need to prepare myself for a second cycle. Pls advise 🙏

[Fazmin]

Hi hun, I’ve had endometriosis since 2015 and I’ve had 2 surgery’s so far and my consultant only referred me for IVF after my second surgery when I was cyst free. My IVF clinic started the process only after my scan with them confirmed I don’t have any cysts. Because as far as I know cysts will reduce the chances of IVF success. I strongly believe that you should go for surgery and you shouldn’t be in so much pain all the time. Yes surgery will reduce your ovarian reserve but on the other hand if you don’t go for surgery the cyst will continue to grow and you’ll be in pain. I had success in my 1st cycle and I am 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant today even though I had low ovarian reserve. They only collected 5 eggs out of me. And 3 of them reached blastocyst. We transferred one and froze the other 2. At the end of the day you only need one egg and it’s completely your decision. But I’ve been in your shoes and I know what you’re going through. All the best xx

[boboveena28 in reply to Fazmin]

Hi dearie. Thank u so much for your advice. After hearing your story, I'm more than convinced to get the surgery done first before my FET.

[Fazmin in reply to boboveena28]

Hey hun, no problem at all. Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help with. Also have you done a blood test to check your ovarian reserve? If you do that it’ll help you further to decide. All the best. xx

[boboveena28 in reply to Fazmin]

I actually did it last year and it was all normal levels. But during the egg retrieval only 7 was retrieved and 1 fertilised 😪 And I'm only 33. Doc said that the egg quality is affected cause of the cyst and that the best way to determine egg count is actually AFC during baseline scan..

[Fazmin in reply to boboveena28]

Yeah so as I mentioned cysts will affect your chances of success. I am also 33 and as I said earlier although because of low ovarian reserve they only collected 5 eggs. The quality was at least good. At the end of the day we only needed one to successfully implant. All the best. xx