stage 4 endo; failed ivf and clomid

[M1673402]

hi, almost 40 year old stage 4 endo here, I’ve had 2 surgeries and a recent failed round of ivf. I’m suspecting I may have symptoms of perimenopause. Has anyone ever been prescribed clomid after trying ivf?! Any thoughts? At this point I’m desperate and wondered if it might help increase my chances of natural conception? I’m assuming fertility consultant went straight to ivf before trying this option due to extent of endometriosis but just wondered if they might consider this just to increase my chances

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Sorry to read your post and hope you have people around you for support Have you spoken to your consultant about your concerns re being perimenopausal ? Then ask him what he thinks your next step should be

Thinking of you

Janet-Partner

[M1673402 in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you. It’s taking me much longer to get over than I thought sadly. I did mention to the consultant but he was so keen to sign me off as it was my one to at ivf via nhs and that’s it, he couldn’t wait to get rid of me unfortunately! He said to go to go and get female hormone profile done but then I wonder where I go with that if I’m already discharged. All as clear as mud!

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to M1673402]

Maybe your GP could check your bloods - worth asking him

Janet-Partner

[M1673402 in reply to JA-fnuk]

Yes I have done but then it needs to go back to the specialist (ie ivf person) and they seem to have discharged me, so I don’t know where I stand really and finding it all very stressful, can’t get a clear answer unfortunately

[XXKKXX]

I think its a tricky one I think your consultant went straight to ivf as ivf would give you the best chance of an egg fertilising and implanting compared to clomid along with your age. Not every egg fertilises and at 40 you really wouldn't be prescribed clomid for more than a few cycles . Clomid has a very low success rate compared to ivf and if the issue is suspected to be with endo , I don't see how clomid would help as the endo could be interfering with lining. I'd speak with your consultant regarding this to see if he recommends another round of ivf or further testing. Did they attempt to clear out the endo during surgery? The problem with endo is it does grow back and multiple surgeries aren't recommended. Have they assessed where most of the endo is ? Is it in the lining ? Affecting bowels ect, tubes ? Have you had dye to check tubes ? Did they try an endometrial.scratch when transferring ? Clomid was unsuccessful for me , I'm 38 . My tubes were affected by endo so ivf had to be the option for us. Im 24 weeks pregnant so there's hope . I never thought I'd get pregnant by any means

[M1673402 in reply to XXKKXX]

First of all - congrats! Amazing news! So my endo is stage 4, I’ve had two surgeries so far and another one ahead in the future as I have bowel and urological involvement now and each time they haven’t had the necessary specialists there to treat it. My tubes have been tested though and are working ok, free flow of dye. I have an 8 year old with same partner but we’ve been trying for at least 5 years or so with no success. I guess I am clutching at straws as I know it’s looking like I’m going to end up with a hysterectomy in the not too far off future, I want to exhaust any possible options available to me beforehand as I’m so aware my times running out. We were advised there is a good chance of we tried ivf again we wouldn’t get any eggs (about 12% chance of success) and that donor eggs would likely be a good option, when I spoke to someone about this they estimated only 20% chance of it working due to suspected adenomyosis also (no confirmed diagnosis of same but surgeon suspects this may be the case). So I guess I’m just in a bit of a panic and wanted to try this option if it would let me hold on to a little hope, I know it’s likely not going to work but I’m just really trying to hold onto anything that might help 😢

[XXKKXX in reply to M1673402]

Don't let them push you into donor eggs until you feel your ready. I was told the same due to age , endo and pcos that id have a better chance with donor eggs. We have no biological children so this will be our first. We were so blessed to have got 4 eggs , 3 fertilised with icsi and 2 day 5 blasts but both were really low quality. 5 and 3ccs . We transferred both as they weren't willing to freeze the other 3cc due to quality they said transferring both would give us a 20% chance but that 20% is now growing inside me. Only one embryo had taken tho . I'd be pushing to have the lining checked to see how much is covered in endo growth. How many eggs did you get from that cycle

[M1673402 in reply to XXKKXX]

Wow that really is amazing! They are very flippant, as you say your 20% chance is now your wee growing baby!

I was told I had very low chance of even getting any eggs at all, my AMH is only 2.6 or thereabouts, they were going to abandon even attempting to do an egg collection, I asked them to anyway and low and behold they got 2 eggs! One didn’t make it overnight but the other was a top grade embryo and apparently then our chances with it where about the same as everyone else, they were delighted I had this amazing embryo and of course at that point we got our hopes up so much! I was all for donor eggs but now our chances are so low even with it I’m unsure, I was also so heartbroken after that failed ivf I don’t know how many times I could put myself through it again, never mind the cost. It’s such a hard road and i just feel I’m arguing to try and get people even to listen to me or advise me all the time, it’s making me so miserable and I feel like times almost ran out and I am desperate

[Talliebobs]

I haven't got endo but experience with clomid. I struggled with side effects with it after my fourth round and had a miscarrige with it. when mentioned this to my nhs fertility consultant he said to try letrazole which after my first round of it I fell pregnant and carried to full term. I had no side effects and didn't realise I was pregnant until 9 weeks.