Confused

[Yuki33]

Hi, me again, becoming a bit of a serial poster....!

So, I'm a little confused. I've been having ongoing investigations for infertility and have been referred to a gynaecology as have also been experiencing abdominal pain for a number of years. Also on a waiting list for IVF on the NHS.

The NHS are very much pushing me down the hsg/laparoscopy route but I decided to see a private gynaecologist yesterday and he basically said what's the point in hsg/lap if you're having ivf. He said I can basically assume I have endometriosis and that this is the cause of my infertility. But going through a lap (which he told me is not risk free) wouldn't really help with infertility as removing mild endometriosis has little to no effect on fertility

I suppose I feel very deflated again becuase he's practically said I should give up trying all these different things to investigate and fix in a hope I fall pregnant naturally and accept that ivf is my only option.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I have fallen pregnant once naturally but sadly lost the baby early on. I don't know whether to still get an hsg next week, surely if your tubes are blocked it's best to know this?

The confusion just gets worse and worse the deeper into all this you go....

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Think it is best that you have fertility investigations first then it can be decided based on evidence [ is there endometriosis - condition of tubes etc ] what fertility treatment would be best for you This must be a very confusing unsettling time for you Hope you have people around you for support To join support group take a look at our website fertlitynetworkuk.org Access to Support

Thinking of you

Janet-Partner

[CardiGrey]

Hi Yuki. I hope you are well. No one has the right to tell you what to do with your body irrespective of their role or title. As janet said, it is better to have the investigations and see what is going on first surely. Also, there are a handful of people on this forum who have actually conceived naturally following certain procedures and it is completely fine to have hope. Good luck x

[PinkCat22]

hi there lovely! Firstly I’m sorry you’re feeling deflated and confused - I don’t blame you. That’s super confusing.

I have endo. As does my mum and my identical twin sister. Even in that case, my doctor wasn’t happy to just assume I had it.

After my lap, I got SO much relief and when it crept back, I was easily able to get appropriate pain relief and support. That would have been hard without a clinical diagnoses which is - I think - only done by going in and having a look. I was told this is because only really severe endo shows on a scan.

Having done a lot of IVF this year, every fertility doctor who I’ve met or who has treated me has wanted to - in some way - tailor my treatment to having endo. I don’t know how they could have confidently done that without a diagnosis.

Also I would imagine it’s really important to know if it’s something entirely different too.

wishing you so much luck and will be thinking of you. Xxx

[PineappleCrumble]

Hi Yuki33, I'm sorry you're going through this. If it helps, doing an HSG, Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy were all a part of my fertility investigations, in the run up to NHS funding for IVF. I assumed that was standard, but now I've seen on here some women never have that done.

To be honest, I've seen other women be none the wiser on here as to what their fertility issues are. For me, those procedures helped rule out several things and helped me go into the IVF process with confidence.

In any case, hope you're doing ok. X

[Crie1983]

Hello, I went through 3 rounds of ivf (all private so very costly) without my blocked tubes being picked up. When I finally had my laparoscopy my tubes were severely damaged and both had to be removed. The laparoscopy was the one thing that could confirm they were blocked as it wasn’t picked up on multiple scans. I was told I’d never get pregnant or be able to maintain a pregnancy with the state my tubes were in so glad I had it done. Whatever you decide, I wish you all the luck in the world. It really has to be something that you are comfortable with. Xx

[Yuki33 in reply to Crie1983]

Thanks for this, I'm so sorry to hear about what you've been through x

[Ytrewq123]

hi Yuki33, I’m really sorry to read what you are going through, it must be so confusing to hear different views from different consultants. That seems like a very short sighted approach from the private clinic. IVF won’t just fix all problems. I would do the HSG if it’s offered to you, it’s very quick, and would be helpful to rule out blocked tubes. It should really be one of the first things offered to you as part of fertility investigations. With the lap, there is more risk involved so i guess that’s more of a risk/benefit based decision, I don’t have endo so feel I can’t comment on that one. I had a diagnostic lap, which I’m glad about, but for different reasons. But I hope you can settle on a decision that is best for you xx

[Yuki33 in reply to Ytrewq123]

Thanks for this. I think you're right, an hsg at the very least will help me get a clearer idea of what's going on here. I feel like the NHS have been delaying me getting this, the nurse keeps telling me how uncomfortable and painful an hsg is and has completely put the fear of God in me!

I suppose with the lap I also feel I'm running out of time. Looks like my ivf may start Feb/March time and I think the waiting lists for lap would take us up till about the same time.

X

[PinkCat22 in reply to Yuki33]

Hiya, I hope this puts your mind at rest a little: some women find the HSG painful. I was told the same.

I promise to get for me, it felt like very mild period pains and even then, I was sort of unsure I was imagining it because it was so mild! I generally find the average smear more uncomfortable. My periods are FAR more painful.

Don’t mean to invalidate anyone’s experience because some women do get discomfort.

I just wanted to weigh in and say it’s not always the case ❤️

[Yuki33 in reply to PinkCat22]

Thanks for this, definitely does put my mind at ease. Just need to go for it and hope it's not too bad, and it'll be over quickly! X

[PinkCat22 in reply to Yuki33]

Wishing you a comfortable and fast experience of it xxx

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Yuki33]

just incase this helps too, I found it uncomfortable but not awful at all, I think it was just a bit more painful for me (but still bearable, and it’s over so quickly) because of the issue they found, if they hadn’t put so much dye through me I don’t think it would have been painful! Everyone is different though of course. Perhaps you could get on the waiting list for the laparoscopy anyway, and you could cancel if you decide against it or it doesn’t work out time-wise with IVF? Xx

[Yuki33 in reply to Ytrewq123]

Thanks so much for this, honestly helps so much to hear people saying it's not too bad.

You are so right, sounds stupid but I didn't even think of that - going on the lap waiting list and cancelling if timings don't work out. That seems like a sensible thing to do, thankyou so much!

[Ytrewq123 in reply to Yuki33]

Not stupid at all! I know it’s maybe not best practice and doesn’t help overall waiting lists, but if you are considering the lap and it’s been advised by your doc, esp if don’t have the luxury of time (which I know many don’t) I think it’s justified to do so xxx