Endometriosis, Dyspareunia, & Lupron Depot

[JaeSoh]

I am 28 years old and I suffer from dyspareunia all my life. It has ruined my relationships because it has made sexual intercourse nearly impossible for me and has made me depressed over the years. My gynecologist advised me to have laparascopy done after my ultrasound came back clear. I then had laparascopy done recently (August 22, 2011) and moderate endometriosis was found. My surgeon/gynecologist decided not to scrape or laser off the endometriosis, and during my post-op visit, he told me he would rather just put me on the Lupron Depot treatment starting after my next cycle (which sets to start 2 weeks from now). Apparently, that's what may have been causing my dyspareunia.

I'm a little confused because I thought laparascopy would involve removing the endometriosis lining, not just a means for diagnosis. So, I still have endometriosis and is advised to start hormonal treatment. Will this treatment help me with my dyspareunia problem? Does this treatment actually clear out the endometriosis or does it just keep it from developing into a more severe stage?

Please help. I am so confused. I just want to have a normal relationship with someone, yet able to have the option of having kids in the future. My doctor says I'm in the stage where my decisions now can greatly affect my fertility for the future and if I don't act on it now, my endometriosis can develop greatly in the next few years. As of now, my tubes are clear of endometriosis but the adhesions are can almost be found every where else.
  

[Natyque]

In my opinion, it all depends on your doctor.  During my 2007 Lap for Endometriosis my GYN decided to remove & scrape all the endometrium adhesions, as well as all the scar tissue surrounding my female organs.  He then placed me on Lupron for 6 months.  In my case it has relieved me for 4 yrs until now that it's back unfortunately & Lupron now is not doing it's trick.  They think it can be lesions (scar tissue) causing the pain more then then the endometriosis.  Only option I have now is Partial Hysterectomy!  I've tried it all including accupuncture!  NOTHING has helped me this time around!

[achilles2]

Also you might want to investigate interstitial cystis (I have both endo and I.C.)
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/

[achilles2]

I agree with ticked, what a dumb doctor! If you can afford it here is another doctor:
http://www.vitalhealth.com/

Another way to find a specialist is to to the endo association website and then get their contact info to contact them and the could also give you a list for your area:
http://www.endometriosisassn.org/

I hope this helps,
achilles2

[ticked]

No problem whatsoever.

I have been on here since 2006 and that is how I got all my answers and found the doctor to do my surgery.  

If you have any questions just ask :)

Good luck on finding a doctor :)

[JaeSoh]

Thank you Ticked!

I should have read through these forums before I had my laparascopy done, but I didn't really know what I had until after laparascopy. I'm going to see if that's a good option for me.

I truly appreciate all the great help.

[ticked]

I totally understand.

Some people hardly get any symptoms and they could have stage IV and some people could have severe symptoms and have Stage I.  

I would suggest the lap to remove all endo and go on the continuous BCP after that until you are ready to have a child.

[JaeSoh]

Thanks again for the specialist information. I'll see if I can get an appointment with them before I'm set to start Lupron Depot.

Bowel movements hurt only the day before and first day of menstruation. There is also a bit of a delay - I push, nothing happens but 5+ seconds after, I feel my insides finally contracting and the stool comes out.

I'm a bit of a weird case. I have only a few symptoms of endometriosis. My menstrual bleeding is very light. I only have two days of menstruation and my first day is usually the heaviest, but I actually can do with one pad for the whole two days of my menstruation (obviously I change pads more often than that due to hygeinic purposes).

I also don't have bad pelvic cramping. I'll get them once in a while but if I'm watching tv or reading a book, I don't even notice it. I've never had a time when it hurt so bad that I had to go to the emergency room (such as the case for both my sisters).

Maybe because my painful cramps and bowel movements only happen for 1 to 2 days a month, I'm not all too concerned about that. But yes, it would be misery if I had to endure it for more than 3 days a month.

Thus, my only real problem is what I've stated in my original post. If dyspareunia and infertility weren't in the picture, I would just let this thing grow in me and go on with my life. Sadly, that's not the case with me.

[ticked]

Have you always had this issue with the vaginal entrance pain or is this new over the last couple of years?

Does it hurt to have a bowel movement?

I totally understand the guy thing its a bunch of crap that we have to deal with stuff like this. Its just not fair.


When i have sex I feel like there is something on the walls of the vaginal that rubs almost like its rigid inside and it hurts, its not fun at all. Not to mention he cant go that far in because he hits my cervix and it hurts like nothing else I have felt.

Pap tests are like that for me as well same with the transvaginal ultrasounds, they like to poke and prod and twist all over the place as if it is nothing when I am dying inside.

On the endo association website there is a name for a specialist there named

William H. Parker, M.D.
Private Practice
UCLA School of Medicine
Los Angeles, California


I googled this one and it seems to be the most popular one that people are mentioning

Endometriosis Institute of Los Angeles
New Location!
9301 Wilshire Blvd. - Suite 208
Beverly Hills, California 90210
Phone: [phone] - Fax: [phone]

http://www.preimplantationgenetictesting.com/Endometriosis_Institute.htm

or this one

Dr. Mark Surrey
Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Associates
9675 Brighton Way, Suite #420
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.womenssurgerygroup.com/physicians/MarkSurreyCV.asp

[JaeSoh]

Thank you for responding!

BCP sounds good. I will ask him for his thoughts on that.

I live in Los Angeles, California. I've been looking for an endometriosis specialist around the area to give me a second opinion, but I haven't been able to find one. If I see a specialist outside my medical group, I would have to shoulder all the cost so I really want to make sure that the one I go to is legit. Do you happen to know a good one in my area?

At this point, I'm not hoping for a miracle. I just want sex to be tolerable. Even a pap smear feels like someone is twisting a knife into me. This really *****. Pain is normally at the vaginal entrance (I've very sorry if this is too much information). Is there something I can topically apply to the area to perhaps numb it prior to sex? Or is that just too much effort over a relationship? Ugh!!!! I hate this. I wish I were a guy so I wouldn't have to deal with this.

[ticked]

Umm that doctor is just plain stupid.  Why have the lap if youre not going to remove what you are looking for.  

In my opinion I would not start the lupron until another lap is done to remove all endo.

I would try the BCP continuously until you have the lap to see if it makes a difference as well.

I totally understand the painful sex part.  When I think of sex I think of torture.  It is not fair to have to go through life like this is it?

Where abouts do you live?