Endometriosis and Trying to Conceive
by Lori Ramsey18 Comments
The diagnosis of endometriosis does not mean permanent infertility. It is possible to conceive with endometriosis. The fact is endometriosis affects 5% of all child-bearing females.
What is Endometriosis?
Let's take a look at what endometriosis is, the symptoms and how it's diagnosed and treated and how it effects conception. Endometriosis is a growth of the endometrium, the area inside the uterus known as the uterine lining, only it grows all over the pelvic cavity in and on the fallopian tubes, on the ovaries and the outside of the uterus. In some cases, it can spread to other organs.
Endometriosis can cause very direct symptoms, or it can grow symptom free. If symptoms are present there can be pelvic pain, painful intercourse, painful urination, unusually heavy menstrual bleeding and spotting prior to menstruation. Severe menstrual cramps are also an indicator in about 25-35% of endometriosis patients.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Endometriosis is diagnosed initially through an ultrasound. An ultrasound is a device which emits sound waves when the transducer is placed on the lower abdomen. If endometriosis is suspected, a laparoscopy will confirm it. A laparoscopy is the insertion of a tiny camera through a small incision in the lower abdomen or through the vagina and cervix.
Treatment for endometriosis varies. The best treatment/cure for it, ironically, is pregnancy. It's during pregnancy that the growth of the endometrium stops. However, it's this growth that can hinder conception from occurring and causes problems with ovulation and the luteal phase. This is when other treatments may be needed first. These include birth control pills and ovulation suppressions such as Danazol and Lupron. If these don't work, laser treatments can be tried. However, laser treatments is usually tried first if pregnancy is desired.
Once the endometrium growth is contained, the other affects of endometriosis have to be dealt with. These are ovulation and the luteal phase. Endometriosis thrives when ovulation occurs, so in order for conception to happen, the growth has to be taken care of and then there's a small window of opportunity for conception to occur before the growth returns. The luteal phase, the time from ovulation to menstruation, has to be at least ten days long. In endometriosis the luteal phase is usually shorter or plagued with spotting. This can be remedied with progesterone or Clomid (a fertility drug) if need be.
When dealing with endometriosis, it's often advised to have a hysterectomy once the desired number of pregnancies has been achieved. Endometriosis gets worse as time goes on and what once was pain-free may become painful eventually. If endometriosis is suspected, it is advisable to let the physician know that pregnancy is desired, so the correct measures can be taken to ensure that conception occurs.
.Further Reading
Endometriosis and Trying to Conceive
What is Endometriosis?
When Did I Conceive?
When Did You Conceive?
The Basics of Trying To Conceive
From around the web
Comments
Showing 1 - 18 out of 18 Comments
Add Comment
I have endometriosis,and needs a baby,but i don't see my periods regularly it stays up 2 6months or more b4 cming and when it comes, it flows up to 3 to 4 weeks i am currently treating it with endovan hope my period will come out? so i can ovulate and conceive. anyone wit such experience i have noticed it 4rm the first time i started menstrauting
I am 23 in march. my partner and i have only been together for 9 months yet when we found out about my endo (only last week) we have decided that as we both know we want kids that we will just do things around the other way and worry about marriage, travel, buying a house etc later in life. my parents are more than willing to help and believe its the right choice. i guess i'm just hoping for some advise. iv done alot of research and it has somewhat scared me. so many woman ttc for years with no luck. it's so upsetting, i feel some of that pain and it pains me to think it could happen to me :( the exact stage of my endo is still unclear to me. i see my gyno tomorrow for results of the op. i have had 4 keyhole incisions which is scary as i have read that can it may have been in my tubes. enough rambling... i guess i just want some advice and positive stories. thank you for listening, it's hard talking to people that just don't understand how it feels :(
Hi guys i had a laparoscopy done 10 months ago as they suspected i had endometriosis as well as pcos, gyni said it was early stages so to go ahead and ttc as it would only get worse. i have a 4 year old who i conceived with no problem and i'm sure i have had pcos for years! have been ttc my second child for 9 months and have suffered 1 bio chemical pregnancy, and since had no luck. my doctor has done an ovulation blood test which showed that i hadn't ovulated on my last cycle, have to wait until this next cycle to do a comparison test, then my doctor will decide what the next step will be. she has mentioned that she probably will put me on clomid, i'm a little apprehensive to go on this as i know the side effects can be bad and i have heard it can make endometriosis worse, my question is has anyone experienced similar problems?has anyone taken clomid or currently taking clomid?or should i be referred back to my gyni in case my endometriosis has got worse? it would be really great to hear your story's as i'm feeling very torn with what to do
I have had severe endometriosis since high school. after years of not being able to conceive.. we did invitro. had a laproscopy first and we got pregnant. my beautiful daughter is 5 now. we tried two more times and nothing but i didn't do the laproscopy so maybe that helps when you clean all that goop out first. anyway just encouragement that invitro worked for us!
I have had endo for the last 12 years! i have had 2 laparoscopies. i have tried every drug you can think of and nothing worked until they inserted the merena iud after my last surgery. i am now 35 years old and trying to have a baby. i had a miscarriage one month after the iud was removed but now after the iud has been out for almost 6 months my endo is coming back again. i want a baby so bad but am so confused! do i continue to try and go through ivf or just waive the white flag and surrender!
I am currently trying to conceive and been trying for 4 years... i am doing the napro technology for infertility, they investigate everything and only for them i would not have even thought of endometreosis.. i am scheduled in for laparoscopy in a few months time.. i dont suffer from pain but have all other symptoms.. but for those of you who cant afford ivf like me the napro is fantastic and they have conceived couples that failed ivf.. hope this helps!
I had keyhole surgery 7 years ago had a tube out and the other one scared up not sure how bad as it cudnt get taken out.. my periods are irregular not every more can be 6 weeks to 8 weeks from one to the next... really want to concieve is it possible without ivf not sure when i ovulate coz ov weeks between periods.. im givin up hope..
I was diagnosed with endo in april and have wanted a baby for a really long time. i have miscarried a couple time in the past 4 years and i am ready to give up. i don't know what to do my doctor says to give it time before doing alternative methods but i don't know how much more i can handle. does anyone have any advice?
I had been experiencing very intense cramping and aweful sharp pains in my shoulder every time i would mentruate. i began to notice a pattern and went to my obgyn seeking help. he basically told me i was crazy and that i did not have endo and that my pain was unrelated to my period. i insisted that a woman knows her body and that something was definitely wrong, so we proceeded to laparoscopic surgery. they did find endo and i was absolutely right. surgery was 1 year ago and i have now been trying to conceive for 2 months... and nothing. this is somewhat discouraging but can anyone give me any helpful tips? maybe all natural ways or aiding the process?
Add Comment
You are commenting as Guest. Please register or login if you would like to be notified by email of replies to your comment.
I had severe endometriosis removed by laparoscopy nov 2011 and had mirena put in at the same time. that mirena was the best thing ever! had it taken out 2 months ago and ttc baby number 1. i'm 33 and worried about how long it's going to take. my gyn is only giving us a 3 month trial of conceiving naturally before they intervene. anyone had luck falling pregnant quickly?
Reply | Report