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Conception

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Original poster

Infertility after c section

164 replies

Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 09:29

Hi

Just wondered if anyone had any experiences of infertility post c-section. I had an emergency c-section in July 2022. I started having some right sided abdominal pain about a year later. We have been trying to conceive our second child since January 2024. I went to the GP in June 2024 and had a transvaginal ultrasound which was normal. In September I went back to the GP and we had bloods and investigations and referred to fertility. Bloods and husband’s semen analysis all normal. I had a HSG in March 2025 which did not show any spill of dye from right tube indicating blockage. I’m wondering if I should have a laparoscopy to see what’s going on but my consultant says they don’t usually do laps that often anymore and go straight to IVF. I just don’t want to do IVF for it to fail and then have a laparoscopy and find a problem that could have been sorted meaning we could conceive naturally. Obviously we would have to pay for IVF as we already have a child. Also, I don’t know what could be causing the right abdominal pain. Could it be adhesions, endometriosis, the blocked fallopian tube??? Some months I’ve experienced extremely tender breasts in the 2 week wait but then came on my period so I don’t know if that could mean the egg’s been fertilised but unable to implant due to inflammation or this blocked tube?! I think I had a couple of chemical pregnancies last April and June as I had very tender breasts and a faint positive pregnancy test but then period arrived. I then stopped testing as it was too upsetting. I didn’t have any problems conceiving my daughter. I just don’t know what’s going on or what to do for the best.
has anyone been through anything similar?

x

OP posts:
Worriedmrs · 12/04/2025 13:59

I had emergency c section in 2006 and suffered abdominal pain, bloating etc. Didn't try to conceive so don't know if it's affects fertility but after many appointments and too many different meds I had a laproscopy. I had fibrous adhesions which bound a lot of my organs. So yes it could be adhesions and mine was around my tubes and ureter.

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 14:08

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did they cut through any of the adhesions? And if they did, did it help with your symptoms?

OP posts:
Worriedmrs · 12/04/2025 16:55

They did cut all the adhesions. I needed surgery for ovarian cyst and the surgeon found adhesions. The surgeon took an extra 40 minutes than planned to separate everything. All my issues are now resolved thankfully. It took me 15 years of issues and while the GP were sympathetic and ordered ultrasound and CT no one suspected adhesions as it is rare for them to cause issues and they don't show on ultrasound and CT.
DD recently had surgery for appendicitis and she had adhesions too which were missed on MRI so I can't suggest any tests to you.

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:34

Ahh ok. Well I’m pleased you eventually got sorted. I know so many people who have had c sections and no one seems to have had any issues afterwards or affected their fertility.
No I think that’s the problem, adhesions don’t show until you have a laparoscopy. I know adhesions can grow back as well even once they’ve been removed. It’s so frustrating.
Thank you for telling me about it, it’s very helpful.

OP posts:
Doolallies · 12/04/2025 19:37

I conceived DC1 in one month. Had an emergency c section.

it took almost a year for us to conceive DC2 and in that time I drove myself crazy wondering if my c section caused conception to take longer. I was lucky in the end but I do know of a friend of a friend who started trying when we did and 4 years later after her c section she just can’t seem to conceive another baby. There does seem to be some research to point that it could be a cause but there isn’t tons of it for it to be a big fact that the medical world talk about

Doolallies · 12/04/2025 19:38

My other friend also had a D&C after a miscarriage and unknown to her they scrapped away too much lining and caused infertility. She had to go privately and it took almost a year for them to work on growing her womb lining back to normal. So that also concerns me too that that could happen to a woman and she’s not aware

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:44

It’s so scary. I never thought a c section could affect fertility as it seems so common these days but I think it’s looking like this is my issue. My ultrasounds have been normal and haven’t shown a c section niche which is what I was first worried about and womb lining seems good. But with my right blocked tube and pain on that side it’s quite possibly adhesions. I just don’t know if a laparoscopy would help me conceive naturally if they cut away the adhesions or if I should bite the bullet and go down the IVF route.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:46

I’m also wondering if it’s just going to take me longer to conceive anyway but I have a blocked tube?! Although it’s already been 15 months and a few chemical I believe. I worry that this blocked tube or adhesions are affecting implantation.

OP posts:
Doolallies · 12/04/2025 19:51

I think you can see a fertility specialist and do some other steps first before you go to ivf. Worth a try?

are you doing stuff like coq10 I don’t know if it made a difference but we both took it after getting fed up of not conceiving each month

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:59

Yeah my fertility consultant has said that they usually just go straight to IVF and don’t bother with laparoscopies anymore as it just wastes time and don’t gain anything from it.
I’ve been taking Proceive then Proceive Max and Proceive omega 3, extra vitamin D, iron, I went decaf a year ago, cut out sugar……feel like I’ve tried a whole load of stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 19:59

I’m 37 now too so feel like time’s running out!

OP posts:
Doolallies · 12/04/2025 20:43

Go for the ivf xxx

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 20:54

I’m worried that if we go for the IVF and it fails and then end up having a laparoscopy at a later date that they’ll find something that could have meant we’d have conceived naturally anyway?! I’m so unsure what to do and seriously overthinking everything! Xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 20:55

How long did you take the co q10 for before you got pregnant if you don’t mind me asking? Xx

OP posts:
Ph3 · 12/04/2025 20:59

@Lucy040288 I have to say I have never heard about a c section affecting fertility. You say you have a blocked tube? Did I understand correctly? Could that be affecting your inability to conceive? What does your doctor say with regards to this?

Prayingforamiracle2 · 12/04/2025 21:43

I had an emergency c section 10 years ago and have been trying to conceive for over 4 years. Same as you had right sided pain etc I have just had laparoscopy on Wednesday and they couldn’t find any reason for the pain. It’s so frustrating isn’t it 🥺

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 21:50

@Ph3 if a c section causes adhesions that affect tubes then yes it can affect fertility. Hsg showed blocked tube which is probably because of c section adhesions. I had no problems before it.

@Prayingforamiracle2 oh no, how frustrating going through that and not finding anything. Have you had a hysterosalpingogram to check your tubes?

OP posts:
Ph3 · 12/04/2025 23:49

Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 21:50

@Ph3 if a c section causes adhesions that affect tubes then yes it can affect fertility. Hsg showed blocked tube which is probably because of c section adhesions. I had no problems before it.

@Prayingforamiracle2 oh no, how frustrating going through that and not finding anything. Have you had a hysterosalpingogram to check your tubes?

Oh I see! I had an emergency c-section with my first one but had no problems conceiving my other 2. They are 23 months apart between my eldest and my middle child and 13 months between my middle child and my youngest. So I was completely oblivious to this!

Doolallies · 13/04/2025 00:10

Ph3 · 12/04/2025 23:49

Oh I see! I had an emergency c-section with my first one but had no problems conceiving my other 2. They are 23 months apart between my eldest and my middle child and 13 months between my middle child and my youngest. So I was completely oblivious to this!

Show quote history

Yeah one of the confirmed issues is Asherman Syndrome

Doolallies · 13/04/2025 00:10

Lucy040288 · 12/04/2025 20:55

How long did you take the co q10 for before you got pregnant if you don’t mind me asking? Xx

2-3 months

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 13/04/2025 08:02

@Doolallies what dose were you taking?

OP posts:
Doolallies · 14/04/2025 19:20

Lucy040288 · 13/04/2025 08:02

@Doolallies what dose were you taking?

Just 1 tablet from Holland and Barrett sorry I can’t remember the dose. I think it was what was advised in Its Starts With An Egg book. Or some instagram account

Original poster
Lucy040288 · 15/04/2025 08:21

Doolallies · 14/04/2025 19:20

Just 1 tablet from Holland and Barrett sorry I can’t remember the dose. I think it was what was advised in Its Starts With An Egg book. Or some instagram account

Show quote history

Ok thank you. Will have a look!

OP posts:
VioIetMoon · 22/04/2025 18:46

Its hard to know what caused the tubal blockage.
C section scarring can potentially cause scarring of the womb affecting implantation . Scarring of the tubes themselves tho from c section , while possible the risk is considered very low risk.
it's possible to have had an infection after the surgery also which is quite possible. Or , it could simply have always been there. I conceived despite quite a severe tubal blockage and you'd never know it was there. It doesn't always produce symptoms and and it was only after pregnancy that mine became bothersome . I only knew it existed prior due to fertility investigations

amiadoormat · 22/04/2025 19:56

Yes I was left infertile after a c section for my eldest child. Ultimately scar tissue caused 2 ruptured ectopic pregnancies and I had to spend £40k on IVF to conceive again. It can only be related to my c section as post c section I would have the most horrendous pain at ovulation to the point I’d have to take a sick day from work and my stomach would swell. When they operated for my first ectopic they found a lot of scar tissue and my ovary was stuck to my bowel. They did do an adhesionectomy but I still went on to have the 2nd ectopic