IVF with endometriosis

99 · Post by 99 » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:13 am

Hi! My husband and I have been TTC for about 18 months. I was originally told I wasn't ovulating for unknown reasons and was put on clomid for 4 months. We didn't become pregnant during that time and then tried IUI. That failed and a laparoscopy a couple of months later revealed severe (stage 4) endometriosis. I had surgery to remove the endometrioma on my left ovary and all visible traces of endo and went on 3 months of Lurpon injections to fight the endo. I'm scheduled for my first (and hopefully only) IVF in February 2007. I'm just wondering if there's any one else who has endo and has been successful with IVF. I'm wondering if I need to do IVF (my specialist says I should) or if I can become pg naturally since most of the endo is now gone... Thanks for your support!

wendy30 · Post by **wendy30** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:12 pm

Hi

I might not be the best person to answer this but here goes

I have endometriosis and have just become pregnant on my 8th cycle of ivf.

I differ from you in that my endometriosis can't be operated on, as my bowel and bladder are stuck really badly and the risk of surgery is too great.

Do you have any problems with your tubes, have they looked at that? and if you are in any doubt about ivf get them to run dye through them to check for blockages before making any decisions. We never had any option of becoming pregnant any other way than ivf as my tubes are blocked.

Its my understanding that endometriosis obvoiusly causes problems with fertility but not for everyone. It depends where it is and what it has damaged, the main part being the tubes.

Hope this helps.

Wendy x

Kabillion · Post by **Kabillion** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:21 pm

My sister just became pregnant w/ IVF and recently had her endometriosis removes. She also had it very bad. She also suffers from pre-menopause and also had polyps and a extra lining removed from her uterus. She was a very difficult person to get pregnant. She only produced 4 eggs, 2 of which were transferred on day 3. The egss were graded b and c. She just found out she is pregnant which is quite amazing. Make sure you go to a good clinic w/ good stats. She went to one of the best in Philadelphia so that surely had something to do w/ it. Good Luck!

99 · Post by 99 » Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:37 am

Thanks so much for your feedback. My tubes are NOT blocked, though there was endometriosis on them. I've had 2 HSG's (the dye) and both were good. I had a sonohystogram this week and it showed that my uterus is in good condition. But the cyst, which I had removed about 3 months ago from my left ovary, is coming back. The dr. says everything looks good for the IVF in February so we're going to go ahead as planned. Tomorrow I start birth control pills and then we have our IVF meeting the first week in january.
My biggest fear is, I don't know how I'll be able to handle it if the first IVF is not successful. After reading several messages on this site I see that it often takes many attempts... It just seems like it has been nothing but dissapointment after dissapointment for us throughout this whole process, but I'm sure you've all felt the same way... I have a friend who started TTC the month before me and now has a nine month old baby and is pregnant with her SECOND child. So that makes it a bit harder... Any good coping strategies?

buckeyegal · Post by **buckeyegal** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:20 pm

I did get pregnant on my first IVF cycle, and I've had endometriosis since I was 15 years old. I'm now 31. I've had 3 laproscopies to remove the endo over the years. I have been lucky in the fact that mine has never been severe. My doc said that IVF is the best option for endo patients....just a thought. Good luck!

KROCK · Post by **KROCK** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:44 pm

I also have stage 4 endo and had laprotomy surgery done back in April. I was put on Lupron shots for three months and during my recovery from my surgery my cysts had begun to grow back as well. I thought there was no hope in getting pregnant. I began the Lupron shots anyways and decided to try a round of ivf even though I thought there was no chance in me becoming pregnant. I did invitro in August and I am now 5 months and 1 week pregnant with a girl!!! I just wanted to give you some words of encouragement because when I read your story I knew exactly what you were going through and I feel your pain. The best advice I can give to you is be positive about the whole experience and just tell yourself that you will get pregnant with the first round of invitro and you will get pregnant I promise. Do not doubt it or yourself. There is light at the end of this tunnel and once you find out that you are pregnant all of what you have been through from the pain on endo, the procedures, the cytst, the shots will all just be a distant memory!! If you have any questions please feel free to ask me!!!!!

99 · Post by 99 » Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:03 am

Thank you SO MUCH for your encouragement! You've definetly been blessed with a miracle and I hope I will be as lucky!

This message board has been such a big help. Before I found this site I knew no one with endometriosis and no one who has undergone IVF. (Well, I'm sure I know plenty of people who have experienced both, I just don't know about it...) We have our IVF orientation next week and I am VERY nervous. Is the whole IVF process really as bad as everyone says? I have gotten use to needles and am not too worried about the daily shots, I just dont' know what else to expect. I've read everything I can about the preocess but any real life feedback from those of you who have done it would help! Also, has anyone done acupuncture with IVF? My clinic recommends it and we are planning to do it immediately before and after the embyro transfer.

buckeyegal · Post by **buckeyegal** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:18 am

Good luck to you!

I actually had a very pleasant experience with IVF....the clinic we worked with was very positive and helpful through the whole process. Although the shots were a pain, they were bearable. Honestly, I think it brought me and my DH closer together. I definitely believe in the power of positive thinking, though. Our clinic really stressed to us how we needed to think positively through the whole process....and it worked for us!

As for accupuncture, I've read that it improves the odds. I actually tried to get into an accupuncturist, but I couldn't time the appts. right with the IVF....I think you're supposed to do the accupuncture pretty close to the embryo transfer? I think anything that will help you be in the right mindset is a good thing.

Ems1971 · Post by **Ems1971** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:28 pm

Hi 99

After ttc for 2 years I was diagnosed with severe endo in Dec 2003 after a laparoscopy. I have what is known as a "frozen pelvis" so pretty much all my organs within my pelvis are stuck together in one lump. I had a course of Zoladex injections for 6 months to try to shrink the endo before having a laparotomy in June 2004 to divide all the adhesions. I was then given 6 months to ttc naturally and when this didn't work I was put on clomid for 6 months. 2 months in I developed a twisted endometrioma on my left ovary and was taken off the clomid. I went back for a second laparoscopy in October 2005 and the endo had come back even worse than the first time. I was given another 6 month course of Zoladex followed by another laparotomy and then went straight into IVF this summer having recovered from the surgery. Unfortunately our 1st attempt was a BFN, even though we had 2 grade 1 embryos. I went on the BCP straight away as this can be the best thing to try and keep endo under control. We have just started out 2nd IVF attempt and hopefully we'll be lucky this time.

I know what you are going through. IVF is hard enough without the added worry and pain of the endo. My advice would be to go into IVF with a completely open mind, hard I know, but last time I was completely stressed out, I suppose its fear of the unknown, but this time I feel so much more relaxed about the whole thing. Just remember, thousands of women who have endometriosis go on to have babies, and they say the best cure for endo is to have a baby, its just getting there that's difficult.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Ems xxx

99 · Post by 99 » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:42 pm

I am so sorry about your condition. You are the first person I have heard from whose endometriosis seems to be much worse than mine is. I am so so sorry you've had to deal with that. We had our IVF orientation yesterday and though I am scared, to say the least, after seeing all of those needles and hearing about all we'll have to endure for the next month, if it works I will not mind! Thank you for the advice about trying to relax. You know, we were kind of going back and forth as to whether or not we should spend the money to do accupuncture with the IVF to help with relaxation and after reading your message I think we WILL do it. In the grand scheme of things and how much we're paying for everything else, $400 for accupuncture really isn't that much I guess...
One unrelated question for you and anyone else who may know... How do you attach the pictures at the bottom of your messages that show how many days until IVF or how many weeks pregant you are?

Ems1971 · Post by **Ems1971** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:52 pm

If you go to www.thetickerfactory.com, click on Event and follow the instructions. You have to pick a ruler and a counter and put in the date. Once you have chosen your ticker, you need to copy the BB code starting from the first [img] to the last [img] and paste it into your signature on your profile in this website and voila!

Thanks for your wishes. The last 5 years have been pretty hard for us, with all my friends and my sister having babies around me, its been hard to take at times. But, I am just not ready to give up yet. I know that one way or another we will have a child, whether its our own or adopted. I think there is only so far you can go before you have to say enough is enough. It does consume your life and all the time you are going through fertility treatment you are living in a kind of limbo.

I was worried sick about going through the IVF the 1st time but it really wasn't as bad as I imagined. I didn't find the injections too bad at all, especially the downregging stage. Once the first one is done it gets a lot easier. The stimming stage was a bit more fiddly as I was on menopur and you have to mix the drugs, but again, once I had done it a couple of times it was a piece of cake.

I must be the biggest worrier on the planet, I am not happy unless I have something to worry about

but I promise you it really isn't that bad. I suppose you just have to focus on what you could get out of it in the end and that keeps you going.

Good luck, and feel free to PM me any time if you need to chat.

Ems xx

Ems1971 · Post by **Ems1971** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:55 pm

Oh, and I meant to say, I had accupuncture all the way through my 1st IVF, and am doing it again this time. You are right, in the grand scheme of things a little more money to try and help you relax and give you the best possible chance can only be a good thing. I know it helps me no end.

xx

buckeyegal · Post by **buckeyegal** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:14 pm

ems1971 and 99--Good luck to both of you! Keep up the PMA during the cycle...you both will become mothers someday somehow!!! I'll be thinking of you both.

ldonvito · Post by **ldonvito** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:03 pm

Hi All,

There has been a lot of great responses to this post and I'll add just one more. I too have Stage 4 Endo and completed my 1st IVF attempt Dec. 16th. It resulted in a Chemical Pregnancy.

Specifically to your fear of how you will handle it if you are not successful. Of course focus on the positive and say prayers, but what helped me was also staying very realistic through the process. It may take more then one try and that is perfectly ok! (I realize that financially this might be different for many people). I think if you at least keep that in the back of you mind, it makes it a bit easier.

The best of luck and I will say a prayer for success on your 1st try!!!

hrobinson · Post by **hrobinson** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:54 pm

I too have a story.
About 7 years ago my husband and I started TTC. After about 6 months of nothing I went to my OBGYN and requested to be put on Clomid. I did this because my sister had problems TTC and this worked for her. The doctor put me on the Clomid. After 3 cycles of this, I called him complaining of severe pain in my ovaries. I could put my hand by my ovaries and feel a pulse. My doctor told me it was nothing (over the phone) and said he would see me in a month. So for a month I endured this pain. When I finally went in for my yearly he gasped and said I had a HUGE cyst on my ovary, but we would just watch it and see what happened. 5 days later I was admitted to the emergency room. The ovary had burst and I was bleeding internally. I was told I had been bleeding so bad, that had I waited an hour longer I would be dead.
After my surgery, I was down to one tube and one ovary. I started having breathing problems, my periods were horribly painful and heavy and they always lasted a minimum of 20 days. I was finally told by one doctor that he thought I had endo.
So, after much research I flew out to Bend, Oregon to undergo surgery. The doctor there ad reviewed my records and said he felt I had endo on my diaphram, which is very rare. Only 5 doctors in the world have ever operated on this type of endo. So that is why I chose him.
He told me surgery would last about 3 hours. 6 hours after surgery he told my mother he had never seen such severe endo. He said if there was a stage 5 I would be there. However, he said he was very hopeful that he got everything, and I should be pregnant within a year.
Life was wonderful, my periods were tolerable, no more pain, and no more heavy bleeding.
One year later I still had not conceived:(
So, down to San Antonio to a fertility specialist. He discovered that my tube was blocked with some sort of poison, and even if I did get pregnant, the poison would kill the baby. So, he recommended removing the tube.
We removed the tube and began IVF.
I got pregnant with the first IVF cycle:) I have an absolutely beautiful girl.
Last summer I decided to go through the whole thing again. When they went in for the uterine measurement, they discovered that I had polyps, and my endo was back:(
So, we decided to wait a year. (due to the fact that I am a teacher, and travel 450 miles for these treatments, the time frame is very limited).
I am now talking about doing it again this year. However, I am so scared about the endo. When we did it the first time the endo was gone. Now I worry that it will interfere, and I will not end up pregnant.
Any thought?
Sorry for the long story.

IVF with endometriosis

IVF with endometriosis

endometriosis and IVF

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