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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Uterine scarring and TTC

21 replies

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 14:22

I've had an ultrasound today regarding pain I've been having in my last bits. They thought I had a cyst but as it turns out, I haven't. They think the pain is a hormone imbalance due to switching contraception. However on the ultrasound they found scarring on my uterus. I had a pretty nasty pelvic infection around 2 years ago and although I got antibiotics for it straight away, it seem to have still left scarring, or calcification as the dr also put it. She said that scarring on the uterus usually means that you will have difficulty getting pregnant. Me and my OH were going to start TTC in the new year (I already have an 8 year old from a previous relationship) and I was so excited but now I just feel completely deflated. I know it's all about patience and everything but as someone who used to be super fertile, it's all come as a bit of a shock and now I'm worrying that it's going to take me years to conceive, if ever. Anyone have any experience with this? I've been struggling to hold back tears all day :(

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Original poster

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 17:31

Anyone?

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Alibaba2 · 14/12/2016 18:31

Sorry you're having a traumatic day Bex.

I don't have much experience of this but my friend had scarring from a D&C and just had the scarring removed by a surgeon. She fell pg immediately after the op. So all is not lost.

Will you be referred to a specialist?

How are your periods? Are they light?

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 19:14

Thank you for your reply, I'm having an awful day and I have nobody to really talk to about it :(

I've not been referred to anyone. I was just told that if I want to TTC then I should expect some difficulty.

I've been on the implant for about 18 months (switched to the pill 2 weeks ago) and was having heavy bleeding to start with but for about a year my periods were mostly light but I just assumed that was down to the implant.

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Alibaba2 · 14/12/2016 19:38

I totally understand your concerns.

They should explain to you where the scarring is and how serious it is. Or perhaps they can't see much detail on an ultrasound.

My friend had a hysteroscopy where they go in with a camera under anaesthetic and they removed the scarring.

I guess this must be offered by the NHS although my friend lives abroad.

If there are no adhesions and your lining looks good, they might just suggest ttc and seeing how you get on. Hopefully everything will be ok and you are still super fertile.

Was it the sonographer or GP who said you may have difficulty?

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 19:50

It was the GP. I went for the ultrasound and then they just sent me up to the registrar to go over the results. I stopped my pill and started having my withdrawal bleed today which I would say is fairly regular, not heavy. I was kind of in a daze when the dr said "scarring" and "difficulty conceiving" and I missed whether she said the scarring was minor or not. Also they only did my right hand side so not sure what could potentially be going on the other side. I've always been quite fertile and so it's just come as such a shock. It's nice to see some people have gone on to be able to have children :)

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Alibaba2 · 14/12/2016 21:11

Definitely Bex, don't think this means you can't have children.

When you feel ready, perhaps book another appointment to find out more and how they treat it.

And ask how thick your lining was in the scan.

They might just say ttc for a few months and then come back.

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 21:30

Do you think that in the meantime it would be safe to TTC? Is it likely I would just keep miscarrying? I'm going to try and speak to my dr asap and ask about the surgery for removing scar tissue. I'm just not feeling very positive about it all right now :(

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Alibaba2 · 14/12/2016 21:38

The GP should have explained more but I guess if they didn't mention delaying ttc or any treatment then that's a good sign. I would presume that means it's fine to start ttc and perhaps you don't need treatment. My friend had Asherman's syndrome so perhaps that's not what you have. But definitely get confirmation on the above.

You're bound to feel bad today but hopefully it's nothing serious.

CordeliaFitzgerald · 14/12/2016 22:00

Hi
I had scarring caused by an infection and ERPC. I had it removed by a specialist and got the all clear. I think problems TTC will really depend on the extent of the scarring and the quality of the rest of your endometrium, so it could be fine. If you google Asherman's you'll find the international organisation which has lots of info about this (including consequences of getting pregnant) and advice on what to ask your doctors. There are also some useful threads on here if you search for Ashermans.
The good news is that in most cases it is treatable (if it even needs to be treated). Good luck!

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 14/12/2016 22:04

AB, it is Asherman's that I have. She didn't mention treatment or anything. She just said "there are things we can try and do" but that she was about it.

Cordelia, have you tried TTC since your surgery? How severe was your scarring? They didn't tell me how bad mine was so don't really know where I stand

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Original poster

Bexicle22 · 15/12/2016 00:08

Also another quick question in case anybody knows. Before the dr told me about the scarring, she asked when my last cycle was. I told her the last time I'd bled was mid November and she said "okay so you're not due another bleed for about a week or so" however I forgot to mention (in my panic) that I had stopped taking my pill at the weekend and when I left the hospital I noticed that I'd started a withdrawal bleed. Is it at all possible that what they believe was scar tissue was actually my lining shedding due to to the bleed? I only had an abdominal ultrasound (nothing internal) so I don't know if things like that show up the same or if you can easily tell the difference. Obviously my uterus is the one involved in the shedding and the potential scar tissue so maybe it could be an oversight considering they weren't expecting me to be having a bleed at the time so perhaps scar tissue was the logical answer? I have no idea, I'm just trying to make myself feel better I think!

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CordeliaFitzgerald · 15/12/2016 07:27

My scarring was quite new so not yet calcified, which I think makes it more straightforward to deal with. It was also localised at the bottom of my uterus.

My understanding is that it is really hard to see scarring on a normal ultrasound so it's surprising your doctor saw it. In my experience the medical profession are a bit clueless about this whole thing, and I had to eventually pay privately to see a specialist who knew what was what (after 2 GPs and 2 gynaecologists couldn't help me). So, try not to worry too much before you find out more and get another opinion on this. Asherman's is usually characterised by very light or non-existent periods so if you're having normal bleeding then that's a good sign. Depending what your GP says, you could ask to be referred for a hysteroscopy which is the only way they can tell for sure if there is scarring and how bad it is.

CordeliaFitzgerald · 15/12/2016 07:28

Also, if you find the other thread on here, there are lots of success stories of people who had severe scarring and went on to have healthy pregnancies

Alibaba2 · 15/12/2016 07:30

Did the sonographer say anything at the time or ask where you were in cycle?

Alibaba2 · 15/12/2016 07:31

I guess speak to the GP and mention this as well as your other questions.

Dozer · 15/12/2016 07:32

Sadly asherman's can also cause miscarriages. Suggest you seek a referral to a specialist.

The treatment is quite costly privately - thousands because it involves a procedure - investigations are cheaper.

There is another test they can do to look at the scarring, with ink, called a hysterosalpingogram (?).

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 15/12/2016 09:07

Thanks for the replies. My dr described the scarring as calcified (which I googled at it came up with the only treatment option being a hysterectomy!) She asked when my last cycle was, so when did I last have a bleed and I said around mid-November. I don't know whether she asked this because she wanted to rule out the anomaly on the ultrasound being due to a bleed or whether it was just a generic question. My bleeding while I was on the implant straight after my D&C and subsequent infection went from heavyish for 3 months or so, to a medium flow for a few months then just spotting and light periods. I assumed this was due to the implant as having light or no periods is a side effect but now I'm not so sure. My withdrawal bleed was mostly dark red/brown blood which doesn't fill me with much confidence although if blood is getting out then I guess that means my cervix/uterus hasn't been fused together by the scarring?

I'm a bit worried because if it is definitely Asherman's, I don't have thousands of pounds to spend on paying private specialists to do the surgery to remove the scar tissue and I keep reading that NHS doctors just aren't equipped to deal with it :(

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Original poster

Bexicle22 · 15/12/2016 14:14

Just to add, my withdrawal bleed is still going strong and is pretty much the same as the periods I had before I went on the implant. The bleeding I'm having today is still fairly heavy, dark red blood but not the brown red, it looks like fresh blood. I'm having some pain but nothing unbearable. On the implant after about 9 months or so the bleeding slowed down to light to brown spotting, usually with the first day heavier (not heavy though) than the other days. More of a light bleed on day 1 and spotting for a few days after. I've not had a bleed this heavy since I was on the pill before. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much but is this heavy-ish bleeding a good sign?

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Alibaba2 · 15/12/2016 14:45

That's a good sign Bex. My friend had mild scarring and she had a 2 day light period.

Original poster

Bexicle22 · 15/12/2016 15:18

Yeah I've seen a lot of people say they experienced very short, light periods or even no periods at all with Asherman's. My periods only seem to have been lighter while on the implant but annoyingly I had it put in the same time as I had my D&C so I can't know for sure if the lighter periods were to do with scarring or a side effect of the implant!

I've just been to check it again (had to put a tampon in today for the first time in a long time) the blood on it is a pretty dark reddish brown. It seems to peak during late morning/early afternoon, both today and yesterday I could feel the wetness so there must have been a considerable amount. When I wiped a few hours ago the blood was dark red. I'm so confused as to what's going on with my body! I don't know whether to get my hopes up or not

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Foxy65 · 17/10/2023 22:18

Hi Bex, I hope you are well. I just came across your post and wanted to find out how are you and what happened?

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