Laraposcopy help!

[aggiemay24]

Hi there,

I'm 41 (husband 40) and we have been TTC since June 2022 for our first baby. We conceived in July 2023 but it was a loss in August at 6+5.

Nothing since.

Roll forward to January 2025 and an NHS fertility consultant thinks she sees very minimal endometriosis during a scan. Says she will refer me for a laraposcopy. (Side note, I'm tested for AMH at the same time and score 1.9, deeming us not eligible for NHS funded IVF so we are discharged)

So I haven't seen the doctor again, but the referral for the laraposcopy still ticked along and then came through last month. My operation is in three days, on this Monday.

Crucially, no one told us about stopping TTC during the cycle of the op (current cycle). It occured to me that maybe we shouldn't, so I googled and got mixed reviews. During my pre-op assessment, three weeks ago, I asked the nurse and she didn't know.

So to err on the side of caution, we stopped actively trying to conceive, though did have sex twice CD7 and 8, using withdrawal method (but with extra time and not left to the very last moment, if you catch my drift!)

Lo and behold, on Tuesday (less than a week before op), the hospital calls to confirm op for Monday and says you mustn't TTC. I said: "Err, I'm now on CD 12 today?! Bit late." She said it's very serious and could cause miscarriage or defects. I tell her about the withdrawal times and she said she'd speak with the consultant. Naturally, I'm now freaking out.

This morning, the hospital calls to say the consultant has said I need a beta HCG blood test doing today(!). I'm now on CD15, surely it still won't show?! (From BBT I think I ovulated CD10.)

It's highly unlikely, and would just our luck if after almost two years since our miscarriage that we fall pregnant on the cycle of the laraposcopy. Naturally, I'm now very anxious about it. I'm worried enough about the laraposcopy alone, as I've never had general aesthetic before.

In a convoluted way, looking for experience of this and advice/support on whether my concerns are founded. Should I trust the consultant's judgement or request it be delayed a few days?

Thanks for taking the time to read my story.

Hi @aggiemay24 sorry to hear you’ve been having difficulty conceiving and for your loss. Funnily enough I am also having a laparoscopy for endometriosis on Monday, and I’m also feeling very nervous about the anaesthetic. I had my pre-op assessment with a nurse yesterday and she told me I will do a urine pregnancy test on the day of surgery, could you ask to be tested again on Monday?
I think a blood test can pick up HCG sooner than a urine test from my understanding, however I can’t say for sure if it would show..
Can you express your concerns to the consultant?

And in terms of the anaesthetic, I have a friend who’s an anaesthetist and she has been really reassuring me that the risks of anything going wrong are very tiny, she’s said the risks are mainly for very elderly and frail patients.

If you decide to go ahead with the surgery I hope it goes really well for you and hopefully makes the difference to help you conceive! Wishing you lots of luck ❤️

Awww thank you so much for replying. It's so good to get support from people with experience - but what are the chances of someone else having it done too on the same day.

I hope yours goes well as well. Is it to help infertility as well? I've had ultrasounds before but no one has ever picked up possible endometriosis. She said it's very minimal but won't know for sure until the procedure.

I will go ahead as think the chances to be pregnant are so slim especially after trying for almost three years in total.

I'm just at the hospital now getting the blood test done and I've bought a test to do on Monday morning to be safe as well. I asked if they do a urine pregnancy test on the day of and she said no. It always surprises me how different things are in the NHS across the country (unless you're not under NHS?)

I'm hoping the laparoscopy helps us achieve a natural conception before we embark on private IVF (also not keen on but mostly due to the high doses of meds, general aesthetic and procedure).

Big hugs x

Yeah literally what are the chances! Yes mine is also to hopefully help with infertility. I’m in a same sex relationship so needed to do IVF anyway, but I’ve had three failed transfers so my dr has suggested my endo might be causing inflammation that could be impacting implantation. Plus I have horrendous period pain so I’m really hoping this will also help with that. Do you have any symptoms with yours?

That’s great you’ve managed to come to a decision, I really hope it goes well for you on Monday! I have no idea what to expect recovery-wise, but hoping it’s not too painful. And I really hope it helps you conceive naturally, I’ve heard lots of stories of people getting pregnant after their laparoscopies so fingers crossed that happens for you!
If not, hopefully IVF can help, we’re doing it privately too and the meds haven’t actually been as horrendous as I’d feared.

Best of luck for Monday, I’ll think of you! Let me know how you get on 😊

Hello Sunnydays!

How did it go on Monday? I was thinking of you.

Mine ended up being postponed as the consultant wanted to be sure I wasn't pregnant, and the blood test was done too early (which I suspected at the time). So the laraposcopy has been moved for after my next period. Very frustrating but I understand their rationale. I just want it out of the way now.

I hope yours went well and it helps with your infertility journey. xx