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Endo, Infertility, and Birth Control
I have a few questions and was hoping that some of you ladies would be kind enough to give me some advice. AF just showed up again and I'm starting to worry about finding a solution to this ttc struggle.
I started having painful/heavy periods during college. My OBGYN at the time recommended birth control, so I took his advice and started it when I was about 21. It did make me feel so much better, and it was nice to plan my cycles, so I stayed on it for about 4 years. At that time, I was married and decided to stop taking it so that my body could get back on track on its own and then we could start trying for a baby. When I think back to when I first stopped it, I felt good and seemed to have good cycles with ewcm and everything.
Once I was off bcp for a while, my painful periods came back. Usually get pelvic pain/cramps and sometimes lower back pain before/during my period. Also, I get this "tight" feeling in my stomach, and sometimes feel like I can't stand up straight. Once in a while, I also see a change in bowel movements during my period and may have some pain with intercourse if it occurs shortly after my period. The major problem now appears to be infertility. We have been ttc for 2 1/2 years with no luck. All of my tests (bloodwork, ultrasound, hysterosalpingogram) have come back normal. I've mentioned my endo concerns to my doctor, but she refuses to do a lap.
I guess my questions are these: Does this sound like endo? If so, do I need to have a lap? As far as the infertility goes, what should I do there? I've started fish oil supplements because I've heard they can help, but part of me feels like maybe I need to go back on birth control temporarily. I felt so good and my cycles seemed to do so well after I first quit them, so I'm wondering if I go back and take them for a few months, would that help make me more fertile again?
I would appreciate any advice or stories you can share. I'm very frustrated and scared and just trying to decide what to do. Thank you so much! My thoughts and prayers are with you all and I hope to see many Christmas miracles soon! :)
I started having painful/heavy periods during college. My OBGYN at the time recommended birth control, so I took his advice and started it when I was about 21. It did make me feel so much better, and it was nice to plan my cycles, so I stayed on it for about 4 years. At that time, I was married and decided to stop taking it so that my body could get back on track on its own and then we could start trying for a baby. When I think back to when I first stopped it, I felt good and seemed to have good cycles with ewcm and everything.
Once I was off bcp for a while, my painful periods came back. Usually get pelvic pain/cramps and sometimes lower back pain before/during my period. Also, I get this "tight" feeling in my stomach, and sometimes feel like I can't stand up straight. Once in a while, I also see a change in bowel movements during my period and may have some pain with intercourse if it occurs shortly after my period. The major problem now appears to be infertility. We have been ttc for 2 1/2 years with no luck. All of my tests (bloodwork, ultrasound, hysterosalpingogram) have come back normal. I've mentioned my endo concerns to my doctor, but she refuses to do a lap.
I guess my questions are these: Does this sound like endo? If so, do I need to have a lap? As far as the infertility goes, what should I do there? I've started fish oil supplements because I've heard they can help, but part of me feels like maybe I need to go back on birth control temporarily. I felt so good and my cycles seemed to do so well after I first quit them, so I'm wondering if I go back and take them for a few months, would that help make me more fertile again?
I would appreciate any advice or stories you can share. I'm very frustrated and scared and just trying to decide what to do. Thank you so much! My thoughts and prayers are with you all and I hope to see many Christmas miracles soon! :)
Wow, I am so sorry for what you have had to go through. I'm glad you finally found a doctor to listen to you and were able to get a diagnosis, even though I'm sure it's not the result you were hoping for. You are right, I definitely need to figure out what is going on, and if I do have endo, how bad it really is. I'm really not happy with my current OBGYN, but there's really only one big hospital nearby, so I'm stuck with her. After the holidays, we are definitely going to get things moving and try to find a specialist out of town. Thanks for your advice and for sharing your experience with me. I pray that the drugs you are trying help your situation and allow your next IUI to work! If not, then you always have IVF to fall back on, so either way, I hope you'll be celebrating good news soon. Thanks again and best of luck to you!
Sorry it took me a few days to respond, but thank you so much for your advice. Actually, we found a OBGYN about 2 hours away that specializes in NaPro and we've really been thinking about going to someone like that rather than to an RE. We'd like to get to the root of the problem instead of just trying to "band-aid" what is really going on. It's so nice to find someone who could possibly provide some advice on this. Thank you so much!
Hey! Just wanted to quickly share my experience with you. I am 27 and have been TTC for more than 3 years now. 2 years ago I had an HSG done and my tubes were completely clear. I've had multiple IUI's done using injectibles/clomid/hcg drugs. None of this has worked.
Growing up I always complained of terrible periods, cramps, backaches, i'm ALWAYS tired, aches/pains, headaches etc...you name a symptom of endo/i've had it.
Anyway, after a year and a half with the RE, he decided to do the LAP. He had no idea of my symptoms above b/c my primary and regular obgyn always "brushed it off" as nothing. So, I never mentioned my problems to the RE.
Needless to say, the RE did the lap. Turns out I have stage 4 endo. Little chance if any of pregnancy. I am now on femara/aygestin to supress the estrogen for a bit before doing one last IUI and moving on to IVF.
My best advice is...PLEASE get to a dr that will listen to you and your wishes. Whether its another obgyn or a RE, please get to someone who will do a LAP for you. Like you, I had symptoms of endo & think you should REALLY push for it. If nothing other than the fact you will know what your problem is as far as diagnosis.
Growing up I always complained of terrible periods, cramps, backaches, i'm ALWAYS tired, aches/pains, headaches etc...you name a symptom of endo/i've had it.
Anyway, after a year and a half with the RE, he decided to do the LAP. He had no idea of my symptoms above b/c my primary and regular obgyn always "brushed it off" as nothing. So, I never mentioned my problems to the RE.
Needless to say, the RE did the lap. Turns out I have stage 4 endo. Little chance if any of pregnancy. I am now on femara/aygestin to supress the estrogen for a bit before doing one last IUI and moving on to IVF.
My best advice is...PLEASE get to a dr that will listen to you and your wishes. Whether its another obgyn or a RE, please get to someone who will do a LAP for you. Like you, I had symptoms of endo & think you should REALLY push for it. If nothing other than the fact you will know what your problem is as far as diagnosis.
Hi Candie, sorry to hear you have having such a tough time. One thing I thought might help is if you could search for a doctor that specializes in NaProTechnology. They are often family practice or OB doctors. The specialty means that they look for what is really going on with gynecological issues in particular and get to the root of the problem. Unfortunately taking bc for cycle problems often does nothing besides "cover up" what is happening as you are not having "your cycle" you are having a hormone induced false cycle. So when you come off the false cycle the old symptoms return. These doctors may have more information for you. Good luck to you! I hope you find some relief!
Keyan - Thanks so much! A lot of your symptoms do sound like what I have. I saw something briefly about that blood test, so I could check into that. I'm not scheduled to see my doctor again until March, but since I'm thinking about seeing a specialist next year anyway, I may just hold off and ask them about the lap. Part of me thinks that since my OBGYN doesn't specialize in endo anyway, it might do more harm than good to have her do the lap.
bny807 - Thanks for your input also. I know, I am sick of AF! I just go to an OBGYN and she feels that since nothing abnormal has come up on my ultrasounds or HSG, then a lap isn't necessary. I've read that too, that a lap might not make a difference, but I've seen other things that say it helps. I agree, I'd rather at least try. Like I told Keyan, we're planning to consult a specialist in the near future, so maybe I'll just hold off and talk to them about the lap. I may give the Femara another try too. Maybe after the new year, I'll call my doctor and see if she'll give me another prescription for that.
Thank you both!! I really appreciate it.
bny807 - Thanks for your input also. I know, I am sick of AF! I just go to an OBGYN and she feels that since nothing abnormal has come up on my ultrasounds or HSG, then a lap isn't necessary. I've read that too, that a lap might not make a difference, but I've seen other things that say it helps. I agree, I'd rather at least try. Like I told Keyan, we're planning to consult a specialist in the near future, so maybe I'll just hold off and talk to them about the lap. I may give the Femara another try too. Maybe after the new year, I'll call my doctor and see if she'll give me another prescription for that.
Thank you both!! I really appreciate it.
Hi candy! sorry to hear about AF again, ughh i wish she would just stay away!!! Its hard to say as far as your symptoms go and endo.. i have a friend who has similar symptoms, but got pregnant twice after only bding once that whole month! UGh i'm jealous!! anyhow and i have one of the worst cases my dr had seen and i don't really have many symptoms.. spotting before AF was the major one.. and everyonce in a while i'll have discomfort with bowel movements the day before AF.. otherwise i think for "normal" people without endo that its typical of bowel movements to be a little more loose during the first days of AF...I wouldn't understand why your dr would refuse to do a lap? is this an obgyn or an RE?
some dr's believe that "cleaning" up the endo during a lap will be of no benefit..others think that your highest chance of fertility is 6 months after a lap.. i personally like to know.. its nice to have answers, and at least attempt to help the situation if you do in fact have endo.. My dr did not recommend lupron treatment, since that also is controversial..instead we always combine my injectables with femara which decreases estrogen and therefore doesn't hopefully make the endo worse.. femara is actually and endo suppression drug like lupron..... Well let me know if i can help with anything! GOOD LUCK and keep me updated!!!
some dr's believe that "cleaning" up the endo during a lap will be of no benefit..others think that your highest chance of fertility is 6 months after a lap.. i personally like to know.. its nice to have answers, and at least attempt to help the situation if you do in fact have endo.. My dr did not recommend lupron treatment, since that also is controversial..instead we always combine my injectables with femara which decreases estrogen and therefore doesn't hopefully make the endo worse.. femara is actually and endo suppression drug like lupron..... Well let me know if i can help with anything! GOOD LUCK and keep me updated!!!
Hi Candie....well you know about me and the LAP......the only reason my OBGYN, my new GYN and the RE suspect but aren't sure I have endo is becuase the only sure way to diagnose it is doing a LAP......they suspect it becuase of the symtpoms....and the lab work CA125, which can give a good a idea about the endo, but not a TRUE one...here's a list of my symptoms
CD1 AF = PAIN/Cramps, medium flow
CD2 = M flow
CD3 = L
CD 4 to CD5 = S...can get a few short cramps
CD8 to CD10 = not much going on...regular CM
CD10 = can get back pain, pain in a side and pressure & tight feeling some times
Oing = cramps on and off
CD22 and on = cramps on and off, most cycles, tight feeligng some times
2 to 3 days before AF = PRESSURE
1 day before AF = painful bowel movements
Sometimes druing the cycle, BDing can be a little painful if "deep"
I usually have a Cyst that ALWAYS goes away on its own, and it can be on either side.
All my DH's test and my Test are "clean" and normal, except for the CA125 which is elevated...I did LUPRON shots for 6 months back 2005 and it got my CA125 level from 124 down to 19 a sign that it is Endo.
Let me know any other questions you may have.
CD1 AF = PAIN/Cramps, medium flow
CD2 = M flow
CD3 = L
CD 4 to CD5 = S...can get a few short cramps
CD8 to CD10 = not much going on...regular CM
CD10 = can get back pain, pain in a side and pressure & tight feeling some times
Oing = cramps on and off
CD22 and on = cramps on and off, most cycles, tight feeligng some times
2 to 3 days before AF = PRESSURE
1 day before AF = painful bowel movements
Sometimes druing the cycle, BDing can be a little painful if "deep"
I usually have a Cyst that ALWAYS goes away on its own, and it can be on either side.
All my DH's test and my Test are "clean" and normal, except for the CA125 which is elevated...I did LUPRON shots for 6 months back 2005 and it got my CA125 level from 124 down to 19 a sign that it is Endo.
Let me know any other questions you may have.
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