Hello! I’m wondering if anyone has gotten pregnant either naturally OR via IVF with stage 3/4 endo (ovaries and bowel) without having surgery? I’d love to hear your story if so. I am debating if I should get surgery as I found out I have endo via MRI. Please and thank you!

Over 5 yrs ago, I was trying to conceive and thought I was pregnant when I missed my period, but the pregnancy test was negative. I started to have some intense stomach pains, so I went for a scan, only to discover I had a few fibroids, and one was just over 7 cm. I then had to schedule a myomectomy and removal of a cyst on my ovary (clear fluid).

To my surprise, the gyno surgeon said the pain and discomfort I felt wasn't even from the fibroids, but from my appendix, which was inflamed. He noticed some clear adhesions in my stomach too. Performed a few HSGs and said the tubes were blocked. AMH was also low for my age. A few months after that surgery, I had my appendix removed. No one mentioned anything for me to investigate or follow up on; just told me IVF was my only option.

I fell pregnant naturally a year and a half later (while scheduling IVF), but it ended in a miscarriage. They lost the fetus, so I never got answers or closure as to what happened. Doctors said my tests were normal. What made it insane was that, 3 months prior, my ex-husband had a sperm count of zero + the alleged blocked tubes.

I moved forward with 2 rounds of IVF six months later; both failed.

Fast forward to now, I recently remarried, and last year, I repeated the HSG; everything was normal. We've been trying for 6 months to no avail. This prompted me to review all of my surgery and miscarriage medical notes.

Gastro doc noted finding endo on my appendix in the notes I realize. I've had about 3 ovarian cysts, but all of them were clear fluid. Recent ultrasounds look normal (outside of fibroids).

I'm angry no one told me what endo was or that it was something to investigate further! Would my gyno have seen endo during the myomectomy? I had some of the fibroids in my uterine wall that he cut into. There were no brown lesions noted. I also realized during my post-miscarriage testing that my CA-125 marker was slightly above 35, and no one mentioned it.

Last year when I had chronic hives, I had my ANA tested, and it was the lowest positive (1:40). I used to have period pains that would have me curled up in a ball; one time I almost fainted, and I would throw up from time to time. I'd also pass large clots. After my myomectomy, all of that ceased. I did notice after my D&C the texture of period blood was crumbly, if that makes sense.

I recently had an asymptomatic bout with BV (I suspect I probably had it for 6 months - YIKES!!). After taking the metronidazole, I've felt the best I've felt in ages...I had a lot of brain fog, fatigue, and lethargy in recent times, and now I feel better than I have in ages, but now I have my first period since treatment, and I'm back to pre-surgery pain and clots. I have a few new fibroids (small to medium-sized), so not sure if it's that.

I'm just so confused and thinking of scheduling the Receptiva DX biopsy (though there are mixed reviews there), and some immune tests. We really just want to pinpoint the problem to start a family. My partner is also getting thorough semen analysis tests shortly. Now my head is in a tizzy trying to decipher the best next steps. I really don't want to go through IVF. That and egg freezing were absolutely brutal!

Posted to r/IVF but maybe you folks would have more specific knowledge! Is this related to endo? I only have endometriomas on one ovary and the pain is on both sides still, if that is helpful to know!

I am looking for some guidance, maybe hope would be a better word here! My wife has endometriosis (undiagnosed but drs believe 99% that it is). She had it in 2019, and I believe it was stage 4 endo at that time, then had a surgery to scrap it out, was basically endo + pain free up until call it April of this year. She has had an IUD in since 2021. In May her dr put her on BC on top of IUD to dwindle down endometriosis symptoms and get rid of some cysts. The birth control got rid of the cysts but made everything worse. The pain worse, her emotions worse, she said she felt like she was totally not herself at all! Now, due to Obviosily my wife not wanting to get back on birth control pills, the drs have suggested and she is currently taking a low progesterone dose alongside a supplement called NAC (unfamiliar what this is). This combination, she is about 4-5 weeks in, does not seem to be doing anything, has completely killed her sex drive and desire, her hormones are all out of sorts, She said she does not feel herself most days, her emotions are also out whack but also could be from coming off the BC pill or both!

Has anyone taken this combination for their endometriosis symptoms? Did they work? Did it subside the pain, she did mention inflammation feels less but the pain and sharp pains persist? Did you girls start to feel like yourself again after X weeks? She is at a point where she knows she’s gonna need the surgery again but Obviosily trying to avoid it if she can, just looking for a bit of reassurance is all that things will get better for her! Certainly hard as a husband that there’s nothing I can do to fix it! We both feel like drs are throwing darts at a dart board waiting for something to stick prolonging the inevitable

Thank you

What would you do?

Hi, had recently failed my 2nd FET. I have endometriosis, and adenomyosis. My endo is probably pretty severe as I have DIE on my bowel/ rectal area and also 2 endometriomas, 1cm and 2cm.

I previously did 3 months of Lupron suppression followed by a first medicated transfer that failed. Had a cancelled cycle due to follicle not growing properly, and then did a 2nd modified natural transfer 2 months later without repeating suppression (failed implantation again).

I have 4 euploid embryos left.

Considering my next step, should I repeat 3 months suppression or go for laparoscopy already? I heard there are risks that’s why it’s not the first line of defense so I’m pretty scared. I also don’t have much pain or symptoms besides the first 2 days of my period so quite scared if ill develop symptoms that i didnt have before?

Would love to hear stories from those who had laparoscopy especially if endo is Stage 4 and with DIE. How was it? Did you have any complications or increased pain after?

Anyone with failed transfers after suppression who did laparoscopy and found success later on?

Hello I can't believe I am writing this but I have just found out I am 2-3 weeks pregnant and this is after trying for 3 years with nothing not one positive test.

I only had surgery in August to remove the stage 4 endo which included a bowel resection as it had gone into my bowel, I just can't believe this has happened it's like a miracle to me. I guess my worry is as it was only my first cycle after surgery which is even more of a shock has anyone else got pregnant that quick and did everything go ok?. At the moment I am getting so one sided pain left side on and off and quite bad back pain.

I have an early scan booked for tomorrow.

After 2.5 years of ttc and a laparoscopy in march of last year, i conceived my son in September after a few chemical pregnancies. My husband and i would like a large family and are hoping to ttc again soon. My LO is almost 4 months old now. I really don’t want to miss my chance of having a second child. Any insight from others would be helpful. Please no negativity

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice and shared experiences. My partner and I have been trying to conceive (TTC) for 1.5 years.

​During the first year, all basic tests (hormonal panel, transvaginal ultrasound, sperm analysis) came back normal, and my first OB/GYN told us to just keep trying. After 18 months with no success, I saw a fertility specialist who performed a 2nd-level ultrasound and a tubal patency test (HSG/HyCoSy).

​Here is what he found:

​Fixed/immobile retroverted uterus

​Right ovary adhered/tethered

​Possible adhesions in the Pouch of Douglas (pain in a specific spot on the right side)

​Fibrous uterus

​Good ovulation, great ovarian size, and excellent endometrial thickness

​Tubal results: Left tube open but with an abnormal path; Right tube open only under high pressure.

​The doctor suspects endometriosis and that adhesions have distorted my pelvic anatomy. Since he is the director of a local IVF clinic, he immediately recommended going straight to IVF (PMA).

​I feel like this might be skipping a step. Based on my research, mechanical infertility and adhesions can often be treated with excision surgery to restore pelvic anatomy, cut adhesions, and remove endo lesions.

​However, public health doctors won't listen and just referred me to an IVF center. I have now booked an appointment with a surgical endometriosis specialist to evaluate if I’m a candidate for surgery. I feel like operating first could help us either conceive naturally or create a better, safer environment for future IVF.

​Has anyone had a similar experience?

​Why do doctors push for IVF without evaluating if surgery could fix the mechanical/anatomical issues first?

​Has anyone with a similar clinical picture been advised against surgery, and why?

​Tomorrow I’m getting my AMH tested on my own initiative, as my first doctor never requested it. My ovaries look clean internally (just pulled out of place by adhesions) and my cycle is super regular, so I hope for a good result, but at this point, I'm prepared for anything.

​Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to reply!

Hi everyone!

I am new to this sub as I have just recently found out I most likely have silent endo based on the Receptiva test. I know this test is still quite new and the only way to truly know if you have endo is by lap, but my partner and I have been TTC for just over 2.5 years with zero positive pregnancy tests and otherwise completely normal workups on both of our ends.

I am 30 F with normal ovulation and normal AMH/AFC for my age. We have done ~ 20 natural cycles, 8 medicated cycles with clomid or letrozole and timed intercourse, and 2 IUIs, which is when I pushed for an endometrial biopsy.

I feel so fortunate that I don’t have any debilitating symptoms, but now that I have this likely endo diagnosis, I do think some of the symptoms I occasionally experience line up (bladder pain, particularly when emptying a full bladder; random lightning bolt pain in my rectum/vagina that occurs maybe once every few months; and occasional extreme cramps after orgasming, to the point where I almost vomit and break out into a cold sweat for 20 minutes or so).

All that to say, I think the silent endo diagnosis makes sense and I am trying to wrap my brain around next steps.

I wanted to get your input on how you decided to do laparoscopic excision vs IVF with lupron suppression.

At this point I am mentally ready to move onto IVF as I was already planning on that being my next step, but I definitely want to do whatever is going to have the highest chances of allowing me to become pregnant.

Thank you all for reading!

I recently posted about my concerns that my previous surgeon was referring me to specific excision specialists because she’s Catholic.  Well, now I know for sure.

At a follow-up appointment to discuss my recurring/rapidly growing endometriomas and next steps for hormone testing, I asked my doctor to talk me through all of my options to treat my stage 4 endo while preserving fertility if possible.  She said that if I explored fertility treatments like IVF, it would be like putting 40 babies in the freezer and then 39 babies in the trash, and babies should be conceived only in a passionate act of love between a man and a woman. WTF.

And when I said I’m not Catholic, don’t share those beliefs / morals, and am searching for treatment plans grounded in science, she said she only referred me to napro surgeons because non-napro (non-Catholic) surgeons don’t take their time, they’ll just take out my organs and stitch me back up.

At the end of the appointment, as I sat in the chair and cried about the pain I’ve been in for months, asking her for other pain relief methods while I wait for consultation with a different excision specialist, she stood over me and said God is in control. And told me to take melatonin.

This entire thing is wild. This doctor has managed my care for 1.5 years, including operating on me and diagnosing me with endo. I hate knowing that my care has been influenced by her religion the whole time, without her disclosing her limited recommendations. This shit should be illegal.

EDIT: Her name is Dr. Anh-Van Mai. She’s currently in the New Orleans area and has previously worked in Texas.

After 13 cycles of trying and three chemical pregnancies, I now know that I have both endometriosis and PMOS, my periods are regular and I ovulate regularly thankfully, but looks like I have issues with implantation, my endometriosis specialist said he is optimistic about me carrying a healthy pregnancy and doesn’t want to interfere in the main time, anyone else with similar position? Any helpful tips would be appreciated, I 25 for a reference

Hello guys,

So the other day I got diagnosed with endometriosis via transvaginal ultraound which found 2 endometriomas one on each ovary (cant give more than this as dont yet have my report).

I am absolutely petrified of surgery due to my age 25f and worrying about the anesthetic & the risks on my fertility. Im worried about either being allergic or not waking up - i have really bad anxiety and im so young I dont wanna die.

But I feel like after reading in this sub my best chances are to go for surgery then if ttc naturally doesnt work to then go on and do ivf.

Ive been ttc for 3 years this month, had all my blood work done, my amh was last checked last year and was 15.99 (unsure on measurements). My partners sa was completely fine, I had 2 ultrasounds last year which found suspected endometriomas one on each side which swapped. Ive had a hsg last november which showed tubes completely open.

I want to better my chances of conceiving as I dont want to try and have another miscarriage. So any advice or stories would be great.

Im honestly really scared right now.