Adenomyosis and IVF

[evalooda]

Hi,

I've recently had my second IVF miscarriage and during a scan at my local EPU the consultant said I have adenomyosis. This was the first time anyone's mentioned this, and it does fit with my profile of recurrent implantation failure and now two miscarriages.

I just wondered if anyone's clinic did anything to specifically accommodate or help with adenomyosis for IVF rounds? I have three more embryos in the freezer. Little hope for those now, but we want to make sure embryos have the best chance to implant. Has anyone seen a specialist?

Background: 4.5 yrs ttc, 1.5 yrs of IVF, unexplained infertility, now aged 40. Clinic has a blanket rule of transferring and freezing embryos at day 3 not blastocyst after age 37 so I've had 6 double embryo transfers - early MC on 2nd and 6th transfer, implantation failure the other four.

Hello, my clinic has very recently after sending me for an mri scan said I have mild andenmyosis … the consultant said that they recommend a minimum of 3 months down regulation (he explained they want to starve the tissue that grows) before I can try a transfer. I am still processing it all myself so have a lot of questions I didn’t ask at my consultation! He said the down reg would create the best environment for a transfer

Oh and he said the down reg would involve one injection a month and a scan to check progress. I can’t remember what the injection was unfortunately x

Thanks @LF82 that's interesting! I'm still in the wait before I can book in my next treatment so I'll see what my clinic says! It's lots to process isn't it. Good luck to you!

@evalooda its so much to process. Especially if you weren’t expecting. I hope your clinic are helpful and give you some answers/solid plans. Lots of luck x

We went through one round of IVF and had one Genetically good embryo. After having 5 fibroids removed I was diagnosed with mild Adeno. It is in the back wall and I have been put into medical menopause. I was given Lucrin 12.75 mg injection and take letrazole every night for 10 weeks.

It is a lot to swallow and I have a countdown to get through it to be honest. This journey def teaches you about patience.

Hi, could you please give me advice also been diagnosed with mild adeno 3.4mm endo thickness, been told to have a couple of injection of decapeptyl and letro-denk tablets, anyone else had this or any advice on this please, i was supposed to have embryo transfer but doc suggested this first. please advise and TIA

Hi @Roseshoshoosh I have been advised to take a prostap injection on day 21 of my cycle for possibly 3 months before they attempt a frozen transfer. They said each time I have an injection they will scan me a week later and decide what to do based on how my body reacts. Sorry I haven’t heard of the meds you have been prescribed but I am guessing each case is different. Wishing you lots of luck

Thanks for your reply, yes it'd different med but seems to do the same thing. Have you had this injection before, what she we expect, does it mean we won't get our period. It's only 3.4mm endo thickness and those meds seem quite strong but whatever it takes I guess. Doc said after 2 injections he will be able to start the transfer but I guess it would all depend on how it goes. I don't have anything to compare it too and I don't know if 3.4mm is mild not sure what the scale is? sorry any information or experiences from anyone would be appreciated xxxx

@Roseshoshoosh I am having my first injection in a few weeks, I was told that the first month I would probably still get my period but after the second injection I won’t and that’s what they want as they want the oestrogen to stop feed the andenmyosis
my consultant didn’t give me a figure in mm’s about the level of my andenmyosis just said it was mild

Any updates on successful pregnancies with adeno? Xx

@OneHeapedTeaspoonOfSugar hello, hope you are ok, to give you some hope I had a successful pregnancy with mild andenmyosis. I had 2 months of Prostap injections before they attempted a transfer

Thank you 🫶🏽 and congratulations on your success - so pleased to hear these stories!
Did you go privately or on the NHS?
I have a focal adenomyoma as opposed to diffuse adenomyosis, and my fertility consultant has basically said to ignore it so I’m not really sure what to do with that as I’m so worried it will affect outcomes.
We’re due to start ICSI in the new year and feels like everything is against us!
What was the extent of your adenomyosis like? How long had you been trying before starting IVF and had you had any cycles of IVF prior to downregulation?
Thanks again x x

@OneHeapedTeaspoonOfSugar we went privately, mild IVF via Create (also had ICSI) I didn’t know I had it until a doctor picked it up on a scan and asked me to get a MRI scan (think that’s what I had)
I had 3 rounds of egg collection/fertilising embryos and then 2 months of down reg before we had the transfer. It was wasn’t an easy journey as I am sure you are feeling now. Truly wish you every success x

I'm 38 and TTC for second child for a year. I have one blocked tube, ovary in a funny position, and suspected adenomyosis. The aden is suspected because of heavy periods and spotting pre and post period. I have had 3 internal ultrasounds and it has not been detected on a scan. I haven't had an MRI. It is also possible I have some endometriosis (eg because of the blocked tube). I have been recommended to start IVF. What concerns me is that despite the suspected endo and aden, my consultant did not recommend any further investigation on treatment of these conditions before attempting implantation. I was keen to have a laparoscopy to check for and if necessary remove any endo but she said this was not advisable and there was a risk of damage. The clinic is a top fertility clinic so they should be thorough but I am just not comfortable with this recommendation and want a second opinion.

Can anyone recommend a fertility clinic/individual who specialises in aden and endo? Any other thoughts welcome. Thanks

Just to correct the below, the consultant has accounted for the probable adenomyosis by using "down regulation" pre implantation. But advised against laparoscopy. I'm concerned about the latter as if it is endo as well this may well prevent the IVF from working