New here - ? about options

[nzsc]

Hi,
I am new here. Here is my story.

DH is 36 and I am 39. We have been TTC on our own for years with no success. I finally was preg. and m/c on 1-12-09. Since then, I have been to a fertility specalist, had a bunch of preliminary tesing completed, and am now faced with 3 options.

1) LAP surgery for what may be endometroisis. During a saline hystrograph test, doc. saw cysts on both ovaries which may be endo. The LAP test would confirm that it is or is not endo and if it is endo, remove it during the same surgery. I would then TTC on my own.

2) drugs - at my age injections

3) IVF

If I am at all considering IVF, the LAP (option 1) would not be rec. because of potential scarring.

Does anyone have any exp. with any of these things?

I wish I started this process a lot sooner. I am feeling very old for all of this stuff. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Natasha

[Jackie]

Natasha, Welcome to SG, I am so sorry you had to find us.
I would like to recommend that you use the ttc board as this board is not very active.

I have/had Stage IV Endo, I've had multiple LAPS done. They really aren't bad, just a few days of recovery. A lap is the ONLY way a dr can diagnose endo and while they are in there they can remove as much as possible, which will lower the stage of endo and raise your chances of conceiving. I would recommend this only because certain fertility medications tend to make the endo grow and may cause additional problems if the endo is minimized before beginning them.

When I first went to a dr I was given a 3-5% chance of getting pregnant and my first pregnancy was conceived (via iui) two cycles after a lap on our first try!!

In my opinion (and this is only my opinion) I wouldn’t pay the fortune is costs for an ivf if I were unsure if I had endo. With the right dr. the scarring is minimal and worth the precaution. And if you still feel an ivf is the right way to go you won’t have the endo to get in your way.

If you need to talk or have any questions about the endo or the laps, please feel free to ask.

~Jackie

[marianne]

I feel that the endo is your first port of call. At 39, you may well be able to conceive naturally but the endo is blocking it from happening. Then I would speak to someone just to make sure everythings happening as it should. I would have thought IUI would be a less invasive first step. We were going that route till i fell naturally at 40.

[msmarib]

Hi Natasha,
Welcome to SG. The ttc board is a lot more active. I'm 37.5 but my AMA and recurrent m/c led my RE to say I have diminished ovarian reserve. My RE recommended injections, too, but they're so pricey and my insurance only covers 50%. Good luck in whatever you decide.
mari

[Debs]

Not speaking from my own experience, but I'd consider the LAP, mostly because there are several women on here with successful pregnancies shortly after having it done. Go with your heart; you will find support here, whatever you decide

[bern0234]

I am sorry that you're going through this.

Laparascopy often cleans up endometriosis and can make pregnancy possible! If that doesn't work, then you could try the other options.