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Conception

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Original poster

Infertility after c section

207 replies

Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 09:29

Hi

Just wondered if anyone had any experiences of infertility post c-section. I had an emergency c-section in July 2022. I started having some right sided abdominal pain about a year later. We have been trying to conceive our second child since January 2024. I went to the GP in June 2024 and had a transvaginal ultrasound which was normal. In September I went back to the GP and we had bloods and investigations and referred to fertility. Bloods and husband’s semen analysis all normal. I had a HSG in March 2025 which did not show any spill of dye from right tube indicating blockage. I’m wondering if I should have a laparoscopy to see what’s going on but my consultant says they don’t usually do laps that often anymore and go straight to IVF. I just don’t want to do IVF for it to fail and then have a laparoscopy and find a problem that could have been sorted meaning we could conceive naturally. Obviously we would have to pay for IVF as we already have a child. Also, I don’t know what could be causing the right abdominal pain. Could it be adhesions, endometriosis, the blocked fallopian tube??? Some months I’ve experienced extremely tender breasts in the 2 week wait but then came on my period so I don’t know if that could mean the egg’s been fertilised but unable to implant due to inflammation or this blocked tube?! I think I had a couple of chemical pregnancies last April and June as I had very tender breasts and a faint positive pregnancy test but then period arrived. I then stopped testing as it was too upsetting. I didn’t have any problems conceiving my daughter. I just don’t know what’s going on or what to do for the best.
has anyone been through anything similar?

x

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:44

It’s so scary. I never thought a c section could affect fertility as it seems so common these days but I think it’s looking like this is my issue. My ultrasounds have been normal and haven’t shown a c section niche which is what I was first worried about and womb lining seems good. But with my right blocked tube and pain on that side it’s quite possibly adhesions. I just don’t know if a laparoscopy would help me conceive naturally if they cut away the adhesions or if I should bite the bullet and go down the IVF route.

OP posts:
Doolallies · 12/04/2025 19:38

My other friend also had a D&C after a miscarriage and unknown to her they scrapped away too much lining and caused infertility. She had to go privately and it took almost a year for them to work on growing her womb lining back to normal. So that also concerns me too that that could happen to a woman and she’s not aware

Doolallies · 12/04/2025 19:37

I conceived DC1 in one month. Had an emergency c section.

it took almost a year for us to conceive DC2 and in that time I drove myself crazy wondering if my c section caused conception to take longer. I was lucky in the end but I do know of a friend of a friend who started trying when we did and 4 years later after her c section she just can’t seem to conceive another baby. There does seem to be some research to point that it could be a cause but there isn’t tons of it for it to be a big fact that the medical world talk about

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:34

Ahh ok. Well I’m pleased you eventually got sorted. I know so many people who have had c sections and no one seems to have had any issues afterwards or affected their fertility.
No I think that’s the problem, adhesions don’t show until you have a laparoscopy. I know adhesions can grow back as well even once they’ve been removed. It’s so frustrating.
Thank you for telling me about it, it’s very helpful.

OP posts:
Worriedmrs · 12/04/2025 16:55

They did cut all the adhesions. I needed surgery for ovarian cyst and the surgeon found adhesions. The surgeon took an extra 40 minutes than planned to separate everything. All my issues are now resolved thankfully. It took me 15 years of issues and while the GP were sympathetic and ordered ultrasound and CT no one suspected adhesions as it is rare for them to cause issues and they don't show on ultrasound and CT.
DD recently had surgery for appendicitis and she had adhesions too which were missed on MRI so I can't suggest any tests to you.

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 14:08

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did they cut through any of the adhesions? And if they did, did it help with your symptoms?

OP posts:
Worriedmrs · 12/04/2025 13:59

I had emergency c section in 2006 and suffered abdominal pain, bloating etc. Didn't try to conceive so don't know if it's affects fertility but after many appointments and too many different meds I had a laproscopy. I had fibrous adhesions which bound a lot of my organs. So yes it could be adhesions and mine was around my tubes and ureter.