Problems conceiving after csections

[Dipsy3]

Hi there! Been ttc for 12 months now: 'no' luck. Have had three c sections. Could they be the cause of my subfertility? All tests on dh and I have come back normal. Should I ask for a scan of ovaries to check if scar tissue may be the culprit? If scar tissue is an issue, would that mean I would have normal periods or not? I have a regular 28 day cycle. Opks predict regular ovulation, and fertility friend confirms ovulation on days 14,15,or16(varies from one month to the next). If scar tissue was an issue, would this affect my cycles, or would they be this normal? I am 43 and dh is 47. Maybe it is due to our ages? I have an 15yr old, then 6 year old and 4 yr old ( all delivered by c section). Grateful for any/ all replies and advice. Thankyou xxx

Wow! That's quite something. You ladies have been busy. That is an awful lot to digest. Been up most of last night with the youngest dc with ugh temp so l'll look into those links in greater depth when I'm wide awake tomorrow. Thanks MA x

High temp even. Hate my phone!

Hi,

Hope you managed to get some sleep and little one is OK.

I have joined the international support group on Yahoo for ashermans (via www.ashermans.org) - its a bit like joining the military - there are quite a lot of questionaires to get through -but WOW - there is SO much information. Doctors names, contact details, notes about which procedures they do and dont do, recommendations by patients, tons of stuff.

The only problem is that its really scary reading - I keep having to take breaks because its convincing me more and more I have AS and its all a bit terrifying!

Hi MA- ds much better last night, slept through: exhausted from coughing and spluttering- he's so mucousy on his chest. Horrible to hear, but he was oblivious to it!
I really hope that you don't have AS, sounds horrible, and treatment seems elusive: unless you can find an expert. I hope that either you fall pregnant naturally or at least find some answers to get you on the right track.
Also DO remember to bd regularly inspite of everything, it helps you guys keep close emotionally and also miracles DO happen: as long as you dtd! The medical community do come across things that frazzle them and they can't come up with an explanation.
It IS so hard. You are brave to trawl through all the research. I will too, at some point when kids are back at school! You are so thorough. I am very pleased to have met you. Thankyou. Just hope you get some good news which you deserve so very much.

Thanks Dipsy. I needed that reminder about keeping close emotionally too. Its been a while now where TTC has taken centre stage and its so easy to forget that there is more to life than just getting pregnant.

lets hope we both get some good news soon.

take care xxxx

I have now been diagnosed and successfully treated for Ashermans!

More info here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/1080899-Ashermans-Support-Thread-for-those-seeking-diagnosis-getting-treatment-or-TTCing-again-after-All-welcome

Congratulations! You don't hang about do you? And rightly so! As you seem to have so much experience of all things knowledgeable, from what I've told you: would you say it was a structural problem then? Or is it age related? Which route would you take? I trust your wisdom: I've seen you all over the conception threads and would like some of your wisdom please. I am so desperate to have my dh's baby: while he is so laissez faire about it. Sometimes I feel it is a self preservation mechanism: if he acts lime he doesn't care then it won't affect him emotionally? Maybe I'm wrong...I do over analyse everything! MummyIE : help. Diagnose my problem and show me the next steps I need to take in order to be on the right path to having that baby I have been waiting for for so long !

Hi Dipsy,

Yes I am amazed at the speed too, and very glad I still have 6 weeks of hormone therapy and using a coil before I can TTC again though, but this doesnt feel like long compared to the 7 months I have had trying to work out what went wrong after my mc.

I am only an "expert" on the issues that I have had to deal with myself. I live in Costa Rica and have been getting (not great quality) private health care, I have seen a bunch of doctors all had different opinions on what was wrong, which made me go running to google and amazon to buy books. I therefore got accidentally clued up on lots of things I didnt actually have including:
PCOS
Molar pregnancy
pulmonary embolism
I also had (and learned about) missed mc, retained tissue, infection of uterus, Ashermans Syndrome. I have had LOTS of procedures including a CAT scan (!) I am 35 and before the mc had a healthy boy and before him had regular periods.

So back to you, if you have regular ovulation and periods I guess you can rule out PCOS (if you push your GP they can do blood tests to check, tell them you have been trying for over a year or you wont qualify) However, part of this test measures yours FSH level and this gives you a good idea of what your ovarian reserve is (how many eggs are left) This would be very useful info if you are worried about age. If you also tell your doctor you have pain you can get refferral to a gynecologist for a scan. This would show if you have a thick enough lining (try to go just before ovulation) anything below 8mm would be a worry (but you could try to build it up with medication or natural remedies) Another age related problem could be lack of EGCM which would mean your SWI timing would have to be accurate to within hours rather than days. Again, you can improve this with meds/natural remedies. Do you notice EGCM at ov time?

With regards to Ashermans I would look at this seriously if you feel that your periods have become lighter since your c sections. Do you get much less flow than before? If you are not sure, sign up to the yahoo group on the link above, talk to other ladies who have had sections and see if you feel like your story is similar to theirs. If you want to cut straight to the chase and can afford it Dr Adrain Lower can diagnose AS via 4D ultrasound, its costs £205 for the consultation and £250 for the scan. I can give you his number if you want.

xxx

Thank you so much for the time you have taken to explain everything so beautifully to me! You are a diamond! Periods exactly the same as before c sections:3-5 days long, ovulate day 14/15, cycle length 28/29 days. However, there is lots of cramping in lower abdomen and severe lower back pain in days leading unto and throughout the duration of the menses. The pain is something I am very unfamiliar with. However, for this cycle just started to take eve primrose supplements, as been told that may help with pain rather than painkillers. CM less abundant than when younger, never seen the stretchy stuff, but during ovulation it's very clear and watery (sorry!). Hope you can offer me some more advice!
Very very hopeful for you, fingers, toes and everything in between all crossed that you get your BFP soon.
I'm not sure that I DO have AS, as had the hycosy: tubes seemed fine? Maybe it IS age related. Eggs probably really old and knackered now! After the ovarian reserve test the con. suggested that I was a good candidate to use my own eggs for IVF, as the number looked good. It doesn't really mean anything to us as we can't afford it!
Sorry for being in such a sad depressive and reflective mood today. It's my 44th birthday today! Take care xxxx

To clarify: had further tests done privately a few days ago; through a friend of a friend: who is a consultant( as an early birthday present )- but there's 'no' way we could afford the recommended ivf, even at the discounted rate offered. So, back to square one...

Happy Birthday! Good news that you have the eggs of a teenager

I'm not sure that you have AS either, but then again only an AS expert can really tell you that. Having pain during menstruation is not a symptom of AS as I understand it (although cyclical pain, i.e. it hurts on the days you are supposed to have your period but there is no blood, IS a sign)

This pain could be a sign of endometriosis or cysts or polyps, but I guess your HyCosy would have spotted that, was it a while ago? I know nothing about these conditions I am afraid, but if you wanted these investigated, tell your GP you have lots of pain and ask for a referral to a gynecologist. Make an appointment on Monday, you have nothing to lose! (and when they do the scan, ask how thick your endometrial lining is )
Ashermans is usually diagnosed via HSG rather than HyCosy by the way, as it is often scar tissue on the lining of the uterus that is the problem (although sometimes scar tissue blocks the fallopian tubes too)

The EPO you are taking is very good for improving EGCM as is drinking more water, cutting out caffine and booze (boo!) and drinking grapefruit juice. (lots of women on the JustMC thread swear by this and tell me the pink stuff tastes better than the yellow!) Also cough medicine that has guafenesin as the ONLY ingredient will thin all the mucas in your body including EGCM (be careful if there are other ingredients these can be counter productive) Also have you tried PreSeed or ConcievePlus? I am sure you have already looking at your earlier vitamin list

Hope you manage to enjoy the rest of your birthday xxx