Possible secondary infertility following c section complications

[completelyclueless1]

Hi Everyone

It's my first time posting here, you all seem so knowledgeable and helpful I'd really welcome your guidance.

I'm 34 and have been trying to conceive my second for about seven months and got my period again yesterday. I know this isn't a particularly long time, but my first was conceived on my first cycle so it has taken me by surprise.

I had an emergency c section with my first and a number of complications when it came to healing. I had a large hematoma but was sent home in the hope it would resolve itself.

Instead it burst in the night and then the c section wound had to be opened back up, cleaned out and left to heal without stiches from the inside out, which took a long time. But I think this happened at the skin/muscle layer, not the uterus layer, so perhaps irrelevant.

I've only just started to dip my toe in on this board, but I see mentions of blocked tubes, scar tissue etc and I can't help but wonder if this is something I could be up against. I know that there is research to show that caesareans don't have much affect on infertility, but it is the healing complications I am wondering about.

We are quite a happy family of three, I think I would be ok if I knew either way - it's the uncertainty I don't like.

I believe there are scans that can look into this type of thing, but that as I have one child I probably won't be offered these on the NHS. Does anyone know if they are easy to arrange privately? And roughly how much something like that might cost?

I'm just completely in the dark and any guidance would be hugely appreciated!

I'm in Cheshire if that is relevant

Don’t think it would cause a problem and in the grand scheme of things 7 months isn’t a long time (although it feels like a lifetime!)

I know what you mean about the uncertainty though, and I think it’d be a Hycosy to check for scarring in the tubes. In the uterus it’d be Asherman’s syndrome which I think is EXTREMELY rare and unlikely from CS.

I saw Dr Edi Osagie out of Wilmslow privately for Endo and he’s amazing. He specialises in reproductive medicine/fertility/endo. Super easy to book privately - initial consultation, follow up and then surgery. The website is transparent with prices and has all the info you’d need - www.manchestergynaecologist.com/

Hope you get sorted and put your mind at ease whatever you decide :) xx

Wow, what a helpful reply! Thank you so much, just what I was after.

I know seven months isn't long and I hope it isn't insensitive of me to have started a post on this board when I'm not far into this process. But my god does it feel a long time!

I'm wondering the same thing having read online about scar tissue potentially causing an internal pouch which holds onto
menstrual blood & interferes with implantation. I have a private fertility appointment next week and will be asking the consultant his opinion - it doesn't seem to be a mainstream view so could just be surgeons in the US drumming up business. Will report back!

Oh thank you, I'd really appreciate that! :)

I've read about that too but didn't think about the US angle.

What a supportive place this is!

Not insensitive at all, every month feels like a lifetime, and I’ve been very lucky and caught very quickly 3 times but still every week drags! (Including MMC)

I think often it is the unknown and if you have in your head that there may be an issue, it’s hard to get past it. A specialist telling you everything looks fine puts your mind at rest and in turn you naturally relax ☺️ And if there is an issue it can be resolved and again a weight off your mind xx

That's exactly right, its the uncertainty that's so hard isn't it?

Anecdotal.
I had only two pg in 8 years and both were suspected ectopic after an emergency csection.
First ectopic treated with methotrexate
Second surgery - didn't find anything apart from a lot of scar tissue which was removed.
I conceived 6 months later with chlomid.
Both my husband and I had a lot of fertility testing as we were gearing up for possible ivf. My infertility was unexplained but I do wonder if that op resulted in my successful pregnancy

That is really interesting, thank you for sharing!

@PankhurstTastic

I'm wondering the same thing having read online about scar tissue potentially causing an internal pouch which holds onto menstrual blood & interferes with implantation. I have a private fertility appointment next week and will be asking the consultant his opinion - it doesn't seem to be a mainstream view so could just be surgeons in the US drumming up business. Will report back!

Hi @PankhurstTastic how did your appointment go if you don't mind me asking