Lupron to shrink endometriomas?

[justtrust]

Hello. I'm new here and looking for some answers. My DH and I have been TTC for 3 yrs now. Dx w/endo in 2006 and decided to try IUI, but, found a large endometrioma on my ovary instead! Dr wants to put me on Lupron to shrink it and reduce blood flow, but I really don't want to do the Lupron. Has anyone else every done this before surgery to help the endometioma? Thanks for your help.

[juliesmom]

Sounds like a good idea.

[oneconcernedgirl]

Yeah after reading all of the posts on here I think I may search out another doctor better experienced with it.  I am 26.

[juliesmom]

I've had it removed from all the same places as you and then some.  Well, except for the bowel, the RE was afraid he'd knick my bowel and the adhesion wasn't problematic at the time so it was best left as it was.  How old are you?  Age has a lot to do with the ability to conceive so that may be a concern.  I think that if the surgeon who did your lap wasn't able to get all of it that the endo is your problem again.  Any little adhesion that is left in there will immediately begin to grow post-op.  You should seek out a RE who will probably be able to do a better job with the excision of the lesions and adhesions.

[oneconcernedgirl]

Well they removed some of it but he said it was so deep that he couldn't get to all of it.  Thats why he put me on the lupron. I had my last lupron shot in july of last year and then it took 2 mos for my period to get back on track too, but so i have been trying for atleast 6 months now to concieve and haven't...
It was on my ovaries and fallopian tube i believe...and bowel

[juliesmom]

Since the Lupron puts you into a false state of menopause it makes sense that you won't conceive while you're taking it and my doctor advised me to wait for another 3 months after stopping the Lupron to even start trying again...that's what I meant by it causing you to have to wait longer.  It shouldn't be possible to get pregnant while on Lupron.  How long did it take for your periods to return after you finished the Lupron?  It took me about 2 months to get back on track.  I understand not wanting to do IVF, we didn't either.  We were going to try IUI but my RE said that my endo is so far advanced that even IUI wouldn't be much help.  I'm going to go ahead and have a hysterectomy and get it over with, my situation is a little different though, I'm almost 35 and already have one child, she's 14.  Did they remove your endometrioma when they did your lap, and where was it located?

[oneconcernedgirl]

I had surgery Dec of 2006 and started on the Lupron Feb 07.  Got it done for 6 months and have been trying to conceive since August of last year and cannot.  I read where you said that the Lupron would extend the time of TTC.  Please explain further for me! I am losing hope here.  i do not want to go beyond this means to have a child, I'm not into IVF or anything.  Any suggestions or encouragment, the truth would be helpful. Thanks.

[juliesmom]

I've done 2 rounds of Lupron, a total of 9 months, I did have side effects.  They were the normal menopause side effects like hot flashes, night sweats and irritability.  It helped with my endo symptoms, I guess, but I also did it right after a lap where I'd had the endo excised so it may have been a combination of the 2 things.  If you have insurance it should pay for the Lupron since you have been diagnosed with endo, did you have a lap to confirm that's what it was when you were diagnosed?  Insurance likes to see a surgical diagnosis before they agree to pay that much a month for meds.  As far as is shrinking the endometrioma, I've never heard of it doing that but it may.  It basically just puts your body in to a false state of menopause where you have no estrogen in your body, so, yes it would help with the endo and growth of adhesions.  If you haven't had a lap, you should.  TTC for 3 years with no luck is a good indication that your endo is far enough advanced that it is inhibiting conception.  The first 6 months after a lap with excision are going to be your best time to be able to conceive, but if you start the Lupron right after surgery it will make you have to wait that much longer to continue TTC.  Sounds like you need to talk this out with your doc a little more before deciding.  I assume he/she is aware you're TTC since you have talked about IUI, right?

[Kay0201]

Hi I found out i have stage 4 endo at 17 I am now 25. I have taken lupron for 4 months after I had a lap done. I don't guess I had a prob with it, but they were really expensive. My mother had to pay around $500 a shot. We had to go to the pharmacy and get the shot then take to the doc and get the shot. I do not really remember if there were any side effects from the shot though, so I am prob not much help. But i guess it helped along with the birth control because after all that a few months after I turned 18 I got pregnant. I wish you the best of luck!!!