Do endometrioma cysts affect fertility? 😭

[Kateeeeeeee]

I just had a scan a few days ago and it turns out I have one of those that measures 2cm. They want to wait for it to resolve and planned another scan in 12 WEEKS, that’s soooo long!

I have absolutely no symptoms of endometriosis though, so I am surprised how this is possible. Could that mean I could potentially have endometriosis?! I have always had periods with zero pain or any issues except low progesterone. My doctor said it might just be a mild case and should probably not affect my fertility.

Does it REALLY not affect fertility?

Some background:
I am on my 4th month TTC and just at 14dpo with a negative early response test and feeling super emotional 😭 worried that the cyst has something to do with this.

I know technically we haven’t been trying for super long, but I knew from the first month we started that I had very low progesterone and this was my 2nd cycle on it unsuccessfully. Although I might not have ovulated last month but didn’t know yet how to confirm it so took it anyway, so really I can only count this month as the first proper try on progesterone.

Please help me understand this whole cyst issue and if this could be affecting things and what I can do…

I’m sorry OP I know this is a difficult situation but please try not to panic until you have significantly more information. You don’t have enough info yet to know what if any affect this will have but please try not to worry too much yet. See what the next scan says, see what the doctor’s say, don’t worry until you have to x

Thank you for your kind words! 🙏

I see written everywhere that an endometrioma basically means that this is a severe stage of endometriosis…. And with that, the chances of getting pregnant drop to almost zero, and it seems like the only chances are after surgery and/or IVF.

Needless to say, I have been crying all day. You are right in that I might be too quick at giving myself this diagnosis and writing out my whole future, but I am extremely worried now. My only hope now seems that the sonographer has misdiagnosed the cyst. I literally don’t know how to get myself together.

Hi,
I have been diagnosed with an endometrioma cyst too. It was found at my 12 week scan when I was pregnant with my dd. I've been told by my doctor it doesn't affect fertility. My dd is 20 mths now and we just started trying for baby no.2.
I also googled it and worried but my doctor reassured me. I also have no symptoms of endometriosis. Please try not to worry 4mths ttc is not long at all.
I hope this helps.

What, really? Wow. This is the message I needed.
Did that cyst disappear on its own during your pregnancy? I am very curious about that.
And may I also ask how long it took you to conceive your first?

Messages like yours massively help me calm down, I appreciate you sharing your story so much.

I had a 4cm endometrioma throughout my first pregnancy and then had it removed a few years later whilst TTC my second. It took us 11 months to conceive the first time and 32 months to conceive the second time after it was gone so it being there doesn't seem to have been an issue

When I had my laparoscopy, I did have Endo but not severe, just a few spots so endometriomas don't always mean severe Endo

I had a large cyst discovered during fertility investigations, this was discovered alongside endometriosis.

Following treatment I was pregnant naturally after 5yrs TTC.

I wouldn't worry with what you said.

Interesting… thank you so much for sharing! I love those positive, hopeful stories.
Sounds like that cyst was there for a really long time… do you think it was already there before you got pregnant the first time? Although you might not know if you only discovered it in pregnancy.

Really reassuring that endometriomas don’t need to automatically mean severe endo. But that’s what most of the sources say online! It’s extremely scary and I struggled sleeping from all that worry today. It was always my biggest dream to have a big family so just the thought of severe endo makes me feel like my world is crushing down. I very much hope that I will have such a positive story like you and the other lady that shared her story!

What kind of treatment did they offer you?

I fell pregnant after 4 months but it ended in miscarriage and then it took 6 months to fall pregnant with my dd.
I don't know when the endometrioma appeared as hadn't had a scan before my 12 wk one, I guess it could have been there a while. I was scanned 9 months after giving birth to check it wasn't increasing in size and it had actually reduced in size by 1cm. I'm going to be re scanned again in a few months to check it again.
Glad to have helped, ttc can give you awful anxiety. I really hope you feel better and get your bfp soon.

Endometriomas are associated with stage 3 and 4 endometriosis. My case was very advanced (despite having no symptoms) and I had excision surgery to remove it all. We decided to leave the endometrioma in situ as removal could cause the ovary to go into ‘shock’ and shut down for up to six months. I got pregnant on my second cycle of trying after the surgery, and I’m no spring chicken! If you advance search my posts from 2023 you will be able to see the full story. Best of luck!