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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.

TTC #1 with Endometriosis

76 replies

MrsDash · 14/09/2018 14:35

Looking for support since my recent diagnosis. We’ve been TTC since early this year. I had a chemical pregnancy in June.
However I have just had a laparoscopy to check out painful periods which confirmed I have endometriosis on my bladder and bowel. Apparently my uterus and ovaries are clear and of course the chemical pregnancy is a good sign that everything is working but Im really worried. The Endo currently can’t be removed due to location and size but in theory shouldn’t stop me getting pregnant. I’m due to have another gynaecologist appointment to discuss treatment options as one might be to have hormone injections to reduce the Endo and make it possible to remove surgically before then TTC again. But I’m sort of hoping I can get pregnant and deal with the Endo after having children. My other concern is that since TTC (coming off the pill) I spot for a few days before AF which I’m now realising is likely to be another endometriosis symptom and this also worries me. Obviously I will be discussing all this with the gynaecologist but it would be good to hear from women who have had or are experiencing a similar thing as I really wasn’t expecting the diagnosis I got and no one else in my family has Endo (that I know of).

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mouse1234567 · 15/09/2018 20:36

Hi, sorry to hear you also got the diagnosis of endo. I got diagnosed a few months ago and a month ago had a laproscopy. They removed an endometrioma on ovaries and some on both sides of the pelvic wall. Likeyou they found a little near the bowel-but didn’t remove it as they claim it shouldn’t have much impact on fertility due to it’s placement and could have caused complications and slowed ttc down. Been ttc for a year so hoping this will do the trick! Ifnot its IUI in Feb. Good luck to you!

MrsDash · 15/09/2018 21:28

Thanks for your reply. Good luck to us both!

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KnitKitty · 15/09/2018 22:24

Hi ladies,

I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 14 and am now 30.
(Endo history includes removal of cyst on left ovary and having that ovary removed, 6 months of Prostap injections, an investigative laparoscopy and colonoscopy where endo was found inside large intestine (which disappeared on its own... suspect it comes and goes a bit). Numerous cysts which came and went of their own accord, and about 15 years on the combined pill; at first tri-cycling).

Started TTC for the first time in December '17 and fell pregnant in second month of trying after about 15 years on the pill. Ended in MC in March, and have had two CPs since then, but I'm taking the positives from this... The endo doesn't seem to be getting in the way of conceiving at the moment.

I found over the years that mind-over-matter has a huge effect on my health and things like visualisations really helped me stay well. Keeping stress levels down would be my best advice.
Also looking after your diet and eating anti-inflammatory foods (e.g. tomatoes) I found helpful and exercising, especially yoga.

There are so many scary stories on the internet about endometriosis and the affect it can have on fertility. But there's an army of women out there with a diagnosis who haven't had a problem (or very little problem) getting pregnant too, they just don't tell the world about it as much.

Best of luck to you!

MrsDash · 15/09/2018 22:35

This is really useful advice, it makes a lot of sense - thank you! Best of luck to you too.
Have you any experience with spotting before AF? I have only had this since stopping the pill.

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MrsDash · 15/09/2018 22:36

I’ve just realised I meant to add that I’m 29.

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FreerOfIcefyre · 15/09/2018 23:00

I was diagnosed with endo before trying for a baby, just happened to come off the pill (been on it 10 years) due to reaction to the pill then all the masked symptoms came back.

Therefore I underwent treatment because of the pain, not infertility. I was married but we were not planning children any time soon. I had pure progesterone to begin with, then 6 months chemical menopause which was horrific but I was in so much pain I was willing to try anything, then laser lap and dye where they could confirm where my endo was.

So after almost 18 months of treatment and surgery I was told my endo was back and we should try for a baby, after 6 months they would give me clomid and after 1 year I would be referred for IVF but I was told it was most likely that I would be going down the IVF route considering how scarred I was inside.

Within a month I was pregnant. That baby is now a teenager Grin and I had another baby 3 years later.

Things I have found helped - like KnitKitty I overhauled my diet, I did yoga for relaxation and I learned to accept the pain rather than getting stressed reacting to it. I have also had acupuncture and massages to ease tension.

Good luck, and no I have never had spotting before a period due to endo but that doesn't mean that yours isn't just a quirk of your body. We are all different. It is 17 years since I was diagnosed and I am lucky that I mainly suffer with fatigue rather than pain.

starfishy · 15/09/2018 23:10

Hi, can I ask what dietary changes you have made? I also have a history of endometriosis and am ttc. Am on cycle 1 of clomid after 2 years of trying. Have cut out alcohol and caffeine so far.
I also have spotting for a week before af but am not too concerned about this as this still happened even on the cycle I got pregnant (sadly ended in mmc at 9 weeks).
Good luck to everyone trying! Thanks

FelixTitling · 15/09/2018 23:19

Read this book, very very helpful.

I also got pregnant almost immediately after having the blue dye test (can't remember the name of this procedure, but someone else will know). Then got pregnant again very quickly after with dc2. Have never managed a 3rd pregnancy, but very happy to have managed 2 dc.

mouse1234567 · 16/09/2018 08:19

Hi all, it is really good to hear that many of you have conceived with endo, especially after laps. I’m so sorry to those of you that have miscarried, it must be so traumatic.

I’m also interested in dietary changes-can any of you be more specific? I am really trying to eat healthily and go low gluten, dairy and sugar-but its so tricky especially when you get your period yet again and it’s so painful! Need to stay motivated!

Hopefully we can keep this thread going -it would be great if we could all support each other in this as people trying to conceive with endo.

It seems like IVF is quite a good option for people with endo-so at least that’s a last resort. Has anyone here had success with IUI or IVF as an endo sufferer?

mouse1234567 · 16/09/2018 08:22

FelixTitling-may I ask how strictly you followed the advice in that book-healing endo through nutrition? Did you find it to be very helpful? I’m trying to follow but is hard!

MrsDash · 16/09/2018 08:31

Thank you so much for your replies FreerOfIcefyre and FelixTiting. Although I’ve heard of plenty of people with endometriosis, I don’t know any personally and so it really helps hearing other women’s stories. And positive ones too!
Thanks for the book recommendation FelixTitling! I’d heard about about diet helping endometriosis but had no idea where to start, so I’ve ordered the book!
I’ve heard that spotting before AF can be a symptom of Endo (which would make sense since I never had it had Endo symptoms). But I don’t understand it since my Endo isn’t on my uterus or Fallopian tubes. I had spotting during my chemical pregnancy too so perhaps you are right starfishy that it won’t affect conception.

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MrsDash · 16/09/2018 08:36

*I never had spotting before having Endo symptoms.

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KnitKitty · 16/09/2018 09:54

I've had spotting before AF since MC but never really had it before that, even when my endometriosis was at its worst. I think it's more a case of some women get it, others don't and not necessarily to do with the disease.

Diet-wise I have almost completely cut out caffeine and alcohol and have tried to cut back on sugar as much as possible.
Anti-inflammatory foods include tomatoes, olive oil (not cooked, just over salads and stuff), oily fish (salmon, tuna, sardines etc), leafy green veg (spinach, cabbage, kale etc), nuts and berries and citrus fruit.
Anyone else like me who sometimes struggles with bowel endo or has endo sitting on their bowel it's really important to eat lots of fibre too to make stools nice and soft so it doesn't hurt as much when the bowel is working. As we're TTC, cereal with lots of fibre and added folic acid is a good idea to start the day with.
Other stuff I heard are useful are:
Tumeric, pro-biotics, valarian tea, and any foods which contain zinc, magnesium, vit B (folate, B6 and B12), omega 3 fatty acids and vit C.
Just be careful you're not taking too much of anything which can have an affect on a new pregnancy.

Basically the old adage of eat a well balanced diet and not over-doing it on unhealthy foods. A Mediterranean diet seems to be a good place to start.

And as someone else has already said, embrace the pain, just learn to live with it.
I was doubled over in pain sometimes and forced myself to go to a yoga class the first day of my period years ago, not expecting to be able to even stretch my legs out and I pushed through the pain. The rest of the day I only had mild period pain and I was amazed.

MrsDash · 16/09/2018 13:12

Thank you, this is really useful advice. I really appreciate it.

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MrsDash · 18/09/2018 22:27

I agree it would be great to keep this feed going.
I’m due to ovulate next week after just recovering from my lap. Keeping my fingers crossed for this cycle.

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mouse1234567 · 19/09/2018 06:36

I’m feeling a bit diaspppinted this end because my DH was away over my fertile period this month so think I’m out if my temps are right. Frustrating as it was my first proper decent cycle post lap and hate wasting it! All the trials and tribulations of TTC! I have told him we basically can’t be apart now for more than two days!! Hope all of you are getting on well.

starfishy · 19/09/2018 08:20

I know how you feel Mouse, there have been so many occasions that DH and I have missed my ovulation and it is so frustrating.
The next 6 months while I'm on clomid we have agreed not to leave each other's side! Maybe easier said than done..
I'm cd14 so due to ovulate any day now.. my cycles are usually all over the place and on the long side but am hoping that clomid will regulate/shorten them.
Thanks for the advice KnitKitty. I have started yoga but definitely need to work on my diet.

MrsDash · 19/09/2018 08:57

It can be so tough. My cousin’s husband is in the army and she has found it really difficult to conceive due to timings.
Another query...
have any ladies got long cycles with endometriosis?
Since I came off the pill a few months ago my cycles are around 6 weeks with ovulation around day 30. Though last cycle it was day 28 so hopefully going the right way. I had regular monthly cycles before the pill. I’m wondering whether this is just my body getting back to it’s own rhythm slowly or whether it’s related to endometriosis.

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KnitKitty · 19/09/2018 12:26

Yeah I'm probably out this month too. Due to ovulate some time next week and OH's parents are going to be here all week so no DTD will be had... So frustrating!

I'm having a practice-run at using OPKs this month though to see if it helps me pin-point when I ovulate.

I don't really know what my cycles are supposed to be like. I started the pill when I was 15 and came off it in December last year. My first cycle off the pill was 30 days, then I got pregnant. After MC they've been 29, 28, 30, 35, 36. The last one being a CP, so think that was why is was longer and the one before that I suspect I didn't ovulate with the heat-wave. I had weird spotting and PMS symptoms for a good few days before AF. I only have one ovary so I don't know if that has an affect on ovulation every so often, but I think probably no more than anyone else who might occasionally not ovulate either.

@MrsDash it could well be just your body trying to regulate. It could possibly be endo symptoms too. All you can do is just keep track of your cycles and see if a rhythm starts to appear. But hopefully you'll get pregnant before you can make note of a regular pattern!

MrsDash · 19/09/2018 15:40

@knitkitty thanks, fingers crossed for both of us being pregnant soon!
I’m tracking BBT and using OPKs so doing all the usual things!

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mouse1234567 · 19/09/2018 19:28

Know what you mean starfish! I think we need to keep our men near! I love going away with the girls though-so it’s quite hard not doing that! More putting everything on hold-we all know all about that! You said your cycles are all over the place-do you have PCO. I also have that -but not in arealky serious way-but my cycles are still fairly irregular! Such a pain not to be able to plan and predict!

Mrs Dash-I suspect your body is regulating after the pill-mine took a long time coming of that-although I think that’s more down to my PCO. I think I’m general people take quite a few cycles to regulate after coming off the pill.

I’m on my 2nd cycle since the lap and I ovulated earlier than usual. Can’t keep up with my body! I’m hoping my luteal phase is longer again this month after the lap! I sometimes have to laugh that my ooenis for a longer luteal phase-rather than imagining I would be pregnant! You certainly begin to lose the hope after a while don’t you!?

MrsDash · 19/09/2018 22:45

@mouse1234567 I know exactly what you mean! Wishing you lots of luck this cycle.

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starfishy · 21/09/2018 08:34

I've not been diagnosed with PCOS, (not sure how they do this?) and don't really have any symptoms other than the irregular periods. Any ultrasounds and blood tests I've had have come back normal too other than day 21 which were mixed. Some show I've ovulated and some didn't. It was always the shorter cycles that showed I was ovulating though. By shorter I mean 37 days or less!
Not sure if it's the endo causing irregular cycles Mrs Dash- I feel like whenever I mentioned it to the GP they just used endo to explain any weird symptoms such as spotting as then they didn't have to do anything about it. My gp said even though I'm having irregular cycles as long as I do have a period I'm definitely ovulating and yet the consultant said the blood tests have just proved what he already thought, that from having irregular cycles I'm probably not ovulating all the time! Angry
I'm on my first cycle of clomid now and had a positive opk yesterday on cd15- earliest I've ever had! Am also just hoping for a luteal phase without any spotting so def know what you mean Mouse!

MrsDash · 21/09/2018 09:03

How frustrating! As far as I’m aware a period does not necessarily mean you’ve ovulated. Have you come off the pill? Could that be a factor? I’m confused about mine because I used to have regular monthly cycles before the pill and since coming off it I’m regular but it’s every 6 weeks.
Good news that you’ve ovulated so early this cycle though. I dream of ovulating of cd 15. I’m currently on day 23 and hoping it’ll be soon, it was cd 28 last cycle.

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KnitKitty · 21/09/2018 09:41

No, you can have a period without ovulating. It's technically a break-through bleed, but how would we know the difference?
I think this happened to me one of my cycles over the summer when we had the really hot weather. Apparently hot weather can stop you ovulating (so say other MN users). I had a really long cycle compared to usual, was very bloated and felt periody for about a week and then got strange spotting I don't usually get and finally came on, and I think it was just my body saying 'right, that's enough, let's have a good old clear out!'

Just used an OPK for the first time this morning. Was quite fun in a weird way. Nice to POAS without feeling nervous about it! Grin