i also wont do fertility treatments. im not a religious person so it has nothing to do with god but its because the risks and side effects that come with those fertility meds/treatments. anyways have you tried vitex? its a natural plant that helps women ovulate and can make your fertility increase. i tried it to ovulate but b/c it stimulated my ovaries to make me ovulate it made my endo worse. there are alot of options out there both herbally and prescribed. i wish you all the best and good luck. remember endo makes it harder but its not impossible!

I am so sorry for your infertility! I went through that as well. My husband and I tried for 3.5 years. We did very little in the way of treatment. A few years after I "gave up" I went to an acupuncturist that specialized in women's health. I really went to shut my husband up because he believed it would help my pain. She told me I could still get pregnant. I ignored her. I saw her about 1xmonth for a year because it made my periods lighter. One day I went to my doctor and I was pregnant! My beautiful miracle child is now 9 years old and he is the joy of my life. So...I would really suggest trying acupuncture. Mine was traditional Chinese and she did insist I give up ALL dairy, peanut butter and chocolate and increase my intake of shrimp and papaya. I didn't ask, just did what she said. I had/have stage 4 endo and the doctor who did my c-section said there was no medical explanation for my pregnancy. It may just have been a miracle, but it may have been acupuncture. And hey - it's all natural! My prayers to you for your own miracle!

I was actually talking to a good friend of mine about something similar, earlier today. She could not get pregnant and after years of trying, she and her husband adopted a little girl who is now about to turn 2 years old. Since I've had a hyst, we were talking about adoption and things, and she said something to the effect of, "You know, I wanted a kid of my own so badly. But now that I have Sierra [her adopted daughter], I could never imagine my life with anything different!" She also said it was "the easiest labor and delivery EVER!" LOL Anyway, I will be praying for you that everything happens the best possible way. And even if God doesn't plan for you to have a child of your own, there's still other options. :) Good luck with everything!!

Honey, my mother tried for 10 years to have children. That is a LONG time. She eventually had to have surgery because her endo was so bad that there was no way she was conceiving without it being removed. Once it was removed, she still had to try for awhile, but eventually concieved the most wonderful little girl in the world (ME!) at age 30. After giving birth to me, apparently her endo was totally gone. 3 years later, a condom busted and she gave birth to my sister 9 months later. Because she had tried so hard for so long and was more mature, she was a wonderful mother to both of us and cherished and spoiled us. =P

Just keep trying. It took my mom 10 years. Sometimes it can take a VERY long time, but when God wants you have a baby, you'll have one, like you said. I'm religious, but not a fanatic about it. I totally believe God wanted my mom to have two little girls. She prayed and prayed for 10 years, and she finally got her prayer answered. Later than she wanted, but I think it worked out for the best. She told God she didn't care if she had just one child, as long as it was a girl and healthy. She was blessed with TWO healthy girls. I think as a gift for waiting so long. Hang in there. It will happen. Prayers do come true, but God gets so many he can't answer them all instantly. =)

I have tried for 4 years to become pregnant with no success. Have struggled with endo for 16 years. i did not get married until I was 30 which didn't help either. I have tried everything out there from natural txs to stimulate ovulation to accupuncture to fertility medications and IUI. the problem with endo, is not so much that I am unable to get pregnant, implantation cannot occur due to all the scar tissue and damage dfrom past surgeries and adhesions.
I will be starting IVF soon and my MD is optimistic that this will work. I was always opposed to this but after trying for so long, I am willing to do anything.
I will try everything possible to not let this disease prevent me from becoming mother. If it does not work out I can accept this but not until I exhaust every possibility I can.
No matter what, you have to do what is right for you, there's alot you can do other that medical based infertility treatments to increase your chances.
I wish you the best of luck and hope you become pregnant soon :)

Emmy, have you considered having them remove your eggs and have a surrogate have your child? As I said elsewhere, thats what my neighbor did. It worked perfect for her. She didn't have endo, but something was wrong with her uterus that made her incapable of carrying a child. It is expensive, but if you have the funds, it could save you a lot of frustration (not to mention labor pains) and you wouldn't have to take so many meds, have so many procedures, etc. Her children are both happy and healthy. She did it twice. She basically said "if my uterus isn't gonna work, but my eggs do, lets use someone else's uterus!" haha. Thats my neighbor for you. She's a wacky lady.

There is also adoption of course. But I assume that most people want their own biological children.

Thanksso much Schala for the ideas. I have considered surrogacy but I really would like to carry a child myself. Pretty much everything has tested out normal for me, the only reason they believe I have not been able to conceive is due to all the scarring. But then again if this does not work, that might be the next option but I am remaining hopeful.
:) As for the labor pains-no problem there- I am sure you can relate, after dealing with years of chronic endo pain I am not even nervous about labor. It's funny because I have had kidney stones in the past which some say are worse than childbirth, after having the pain with those I realized that the pain was just as bad with my endo flare ups each month (minus the bladder symptoms). Just makes you realize what all of us go through and how strong we are. :)

Hi love. I know women who have had success with the Creighton Model at FertilityCare (even after failed IVF cycles!) It is ALL natural! Worth looking into? I use them to maintain my pregnancies, as I miscarry without fail if I don't use HCG and Progesterone supplementation. It also prevents preterm labour for me... xx

@ Emmy - honey I went through a 2 day labour with a posterior term baby girl, then weeks of labour with my preemie son (wound up and emergency caesar at 25 weeks) without pain meds.... and I would choose that over endo each month! We do get really strong living with endo pains.... So sorry to hear of your scarring problems, and I really hope the Lord blesses you with a healthy baby (and of course for miss Ashley too!) xx

Oh and Ashley hun - I also have severe endo, and was told at 18 to have a hysterectomy as I would never conceive.... Have had a few miscarriages, but two healthy babies and I am now pregnant! xx

Hey ladies thanks for all your comments... I appreciate it! Sad to say that yesterday I started :( Not preggo this month. Just have to keep trying... and keep my head up. Im having yet another problem... I was 27 days apart for my period... then 26 days and now 23???? Have any of you had this problem??? How am I suppose to map my fertility? I never know how many days I will be in between. : /

Thanks again Ladies!!!

XoXo

Ashley I don't know if they can do it there but I have the same problem as you.. I can have my period anywhere from every 2 weeks to every 2 months. It swaps between be longer times apart or being shorter.

But I don't register on those strips at home (OPK's), I had a progesterone test done (blood test) and I DO ovulate however, I had the test done, got the results 2 days later and then the day after I got my period. I was having it weekly untill I registered. So it appears I ovulate very close to my period not at the usual month mark.

This could be the same for you, since you have a cycle doing whatever it wants it doesn't necessarily mean you ovulate in the "15 day mark" time. If you could perhaps get the same test done I did, it could show you a better picture of when you ovulate.

What happened hyperthetically say I started my period say on a Friday I then went in every friday untill I ovulated. It would show you the week span atleast of when you ovulate. You'd have a more accurate understanding then based on blood work. My GP said those tests are good for if you show up with a big positive but he said for women who don't for women who rarely do it isn't any help at all you need blood work done to pin point it more accurately.

I hope I helped abit?

Goodluck!

Ashley, my period is VERY irregular, and always has been. Before and after surgery to take out an ovary (along with lots of endo). Sometimes I start at the beginning of a month, sometimes the middle, and sometimes the end. I just never know. I now carry a pad with me in my purse wherever I go. A thin one, since tampons hurt now, and thin ones usually hold me over until I'm able to get home and put on a thick one that I usually need at the start of my cycle. Thats also irregular. At the start, I'll either flow really heavy or really light, I never know. Mid cycle is usually ALWAYS heavy flow. End of cycle is again, either very light or heavy with bleeding, but minimal clots.

Lets just say, I prefer it when my period is light all around. Its still painful and crampy, but its less disgusting and means less pad changing than the heavy ones. I also get a lot of vaginal discharge about 1 week prior to my period. This is when it USUALLY happens, but the "vagina snot" can come at any time, even if I don't start my period in 3 weeks or more!

I definitely recommend finding a good acupuncturist who's dealt with endo and IF before. I was starting to get bad endo symptoms- horrible pain starting a full week before my period- my acupuncturist helped me clear those up the 1st month and I got pregnant in the 2nd!