Advice on what to do next?

• By AnnaWM99
• Reply 3317937
• August 24, 2012 at 1:12 pm
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Do you have any symptoms/history of endo or cysts? I did a Lap to remove endo before moving onto 3 clomid IUIs & 1 injectibles IUI which didn't work for me. A few years later (and another lap later) we are starting IVF. Not sure what your insurance coverage is but nothing was paid for so as far as fertility treatments for me. My endo was bad enough and based on my history my RE didn't want to go thru with IVF until some cysts were removed and we knew what we were dealing with. The normal functioning area of my ovaries was significantly reduced. Plus insurance covered my lap but no other treatments. But if you don't have symptoms maybe they aren't thinking it could be bad. For me it put my mind at ease knowing they'd actually seen inside of there...and we knew what we were dealing with.

That being said...a lot of people bail and just go the adoption route and there's nothing wrong with that. I had misgivings about whether or not my DH would accept a child that wasn't his. I know that may seem silly, but it worried me. My DH also resisted IVF until our RE did the last lap, showed him pictures, and said you need help to get pregnant, and he accepted we'd have to spend a significant chunk of change to have a kid. Not sure that's relevant to you or not, but my experience so passing it along.

• By labrat21
• Reply 3318773
• August 24, 2012 at 6:56 pm
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I had surgery in 2009 for endo. It was a pointless surgery. She opened my up and saw I had endo and closed me back up. My endo is around my ureters and behind my bladder. She said it was too dangerous to remove. That is why I am a little nervous about this surgery. The RE said it would be more involved, a longer surgery, and longer recovery time. He said it would be like peeling an onion.
I am very lucky, my insurance has covered everything so far. I have 3 more IUI's and 3 IVF's that could still be covered.
I just wish I had a crystal ball and could see if the surgery is worth it or just go to IVF. I'm still concerned about the ethics of IVF. What to do with embryos afterwards? I know freeze them and try again later. But it is alot to think about and no clear cut answers. That is why I'm asking for what others have done.

Thanks for responding. It helps me to know there are others out there in the same situation.

• By AnnaWM99
• Reply 3323928
• August 26, 2012 at 10:06 pm
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I will definitely give you my opinion because i wish id made a more informed similar decision years ago. My doctors just said it was up to me and quoted a 15-20% IUI success rate which I feel is crap for people with endo. It spreads and if your insurance covers IVF without having to do IUIs first I'd do that. From my experience and others on this board the chances of an IUI working with Endo are slim. Yours may not create an issue but there's a lot they can't see until they start to operate and pick around. In two years I went from minimal endo to stage 4 completely out of control. I'm surprised your RE did nothing. My guess was they didn't feel qualified based on where it was located. I've had some removed from my bladder. The only other thing ( which I have to say I cannot get a dr to admit) is that I feel the IUI drugs made my endo worse ( i did clomid and injectibles.) The increased levels of hormones for such a low success rate led to endo cysts which I never had before (think ovaries 3x the normal size.)

• By AnnaWM99
• Reply 3323946
• August 26, 2012 at 10:11 pm
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Oh and one more thing. Ask your RE if they will go ahead and do an IVF consultation with you so you'll be able to ask specific questions. Ethics are up to up to you to decide but most programs have several options for embryos and you have to declare that upfront. Most will destroy, donate, or use for research. I couldn't imagine destroying and donating, so we went with the research option if by some miracle there are leftovers.

• By labrat21
• Reply 3325006
• August 27, 2012 at 11:06 am
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Right now, I just wish I had a crystal ball! I'm going to my support group tonight to ask their advice. The leader went through the same path, surgery and then IVF. She had a baby in March , 3 months premature.
You have given me some more to think about!