Infertility after c section

[Lucy040288]

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

@HPriorjust saw this thread, sending huge congratulations, you give me hope 💛🌟. Hope your pregnancy is going well and sending you all the best wishes

So an update... I had a NHS follow up appointment yesterday following contact with them about my private scan which identified the niche.
The doctor was suprised it wasnt picked up on my hycosy a year ago. She looked back on the report, which all reported normal. She looked at the scan images herself...and there it was clear as day!!! She was very apologetic. Said this shouldn't have happened and should have been picked up. A whole year wasted!! She has referred me to the UCLH for a repair but said this will take a very long time and in the mean time to do IVF and freeze my eggs 😔😔 just don't know what to do now x

@ChaE05 I’m sorry that it wasn’t picked up before. However, it’s amazing that the doctor has taken it seriously and said it needs repair instead of fobbing you off and telling you the niche won’t affect anything and just to do IVF. I suppose doing egg collection depends on your age and how easily you conceived before. Could you look into paying private for the repair to get it done quicker? Are you looking at lap repair or hyst? X

@Lucy040288i know !! I was full expecting her to say sorry nothing can be done. Tbh, I really dont think i want to pay so much money for IVF at my age (39) have seen so many around me with poor outcomes. Its such alot of money. I think I would prefer to look into having it repaired privately. Im going to at the very least find someone in london and book in to have a consultation to get their specialist opinion on it and find out if I would need a hysteroscopy or laparoscopy x

If anyone can recommend any london based surgeons that would be great 🥰

@ChaE05paying for IVF because you have to wait for a repair makes no sense. If you only need a hysteroscopic resection it’s a day case - would cost a lot less than IVF especially as at 39 you are going to be recommended to do PGT-A testing which really adds to the IVF cost if you are lucky and get a lot of embryos. A laparoscopic repair would cost more than a hysteroscopic one I expect as it’s a more major operation but I’d be surprised if it was more than IVF. IVF is about 12k minimum in London now and at 39 people often have to do more than one round. Also each transfer is about 3k. Re surgeons in London who do c section niche repair try Mr Ertan Saridogan, Mahantesh Karoshi or Adrian Lower. There is also a Facebook group on niches where a lot of comments recommend surgeons so may be worth a look. Good luck!

@ChaE05PS to find out whether you’ll need hysteroscopy or laparoscopy for the repair, you’ll need an MRI and possibly a hysteroscopy to look at the niche. But your consultant should advise as to what next steps are to investigate the niche before the necessary surgery is decided on.