Any advice on next steps?

[Lifeisstressful]

Hi,

My husband and I have been trying for a baby for nearly 3 years. We’re under a fertility clinic (nhs), we were originally told all was good and it was unexplained infertility. At every appointment we were told to keep trying naturally for 6 months.

I pushed for a laparoscopy as I knew something wasn’t quite right with my periods and I ended up being diagnosed with Endometriosis and had ablation and excision (May this year).

We were told that we would receive a follow up with the fertility clinic 3 months after my op (this would be the end of august/beginning of September).
I chased up the appointment as I hadn’t heard and got told it would be the end of august and to get back in touch if I hadn’t heard anything in a few weeks.
She then emailed me back to say we have an appointment next week.

I’m really unsure what our next steps are?
I was told previously that clomid or ovulation inducing drugs were not needed as I ovulate and obviously we’ve been trying naturally without any success at all.

Any similar experiences or advice on what might be the next step for us?

Thanks x

@Lifeisstressful IVF is probably the next step based on what you've said.

@Gardenlady543 I did think that it would probably be IVF. I need to try to get my head in the game that it’s likely this is our next step

I wish the appointment was now, the wait is horrible!

Thank you for replying :)

I would be keen to pursue it if offered if I were you. It sounds like you've been trying long enough and you've been told on several occasions to keep trying naturally.

@Gardenlady543 oh absolutely! We will take any help that’s offered to us, we’ve felt very alone and just left on this journey so far.

@Lifeisstressful hopefully that will change with your next consultation. It kind of feels like people are fobbed off with the "keep trying naturally" spiel. I was told that after a year of ttc with no BFP. I knew there was something wrong so said I wanted IVF, I was private so my specialist supported the decision. IVF hasn't worked to date (the first consultation was September 2020) and we have tried naturally inbetween cycles, so all trying naturally would have achieved was to delay starting IVF.

If they say keep trying naturally is it worth pushing for IVF. My understanding is that endometriosis recurs, it affects the ovaries impacting on egg quality, so this is the best chance for success when it comes to egg retrieval.

@Gardenlady543 I’m sorry to hear it hasn’t been successful for you yet, hopefully they are gaining a better understanding of your body and cycles.

I will definitely be pushing, I agree with you about this being a good time. The endometriosis has been cleared so I’m in the best position surely?
We’ve tried naturally since the surgery and it hasn’t worked so I really feel like we need help now.

I’ll keep you posted whether they readily offer it or if we have to fight!

As far as I'm aware, after the surgery has cleared it is the best time. The lesions can build up again over time and it leads to cytokines and an inflammatory state that is not helpful for fertility. You don't want to give it time to build up again.

Hopefully your specialist will push for IVF soon as well. But quite often we have to be our own advocate. Definitely post an update when you know more.

@Gardenlady543 you were right, we’ve been referred for IVF this week.
Starting roughly in two months, just waiting for our consenting appointment.

Any tips will be appreciated as I’m pooing myself now

I thought this would be the case @Lifeisstressful . To be honest I was really glad to move onto Ivf, I know it feels daunting but clearly nothing else had worked for me to date and this was something else to try. I was the most worried about the egg collection procedure, however I was completely knocked out on the sedation so it was absolutely fine.