@ nelly no worries I think the problem why the lap and endo dont get discussed more is because they only figure 1 in 8 to 10 women suffer from this disorder but I think more than that do suffer. We are raised in a society where getting your period and the pain that comes along with it are just deemed as "normal" but a lot of times there are symptoms aside from the cramps during periods that women have they just shrug it off... the biggest thing for me was the painful sex but again I just always thought maybe we weren't doing something right or I just wasn't used to it or my ex was just really rough.. the other things I always attributed to other things liek the exhaustion=not enough sleep or vitamin D, the IBS= ate too much or something that didn't agree with me and like I said before the debilitating cramps I thought were "normal" and I was just a wimp... It is sad that this issue gets huffed off and not taken seriously us ladies who have been PROPERLY DIAGNOSED know how hard it is to deal with the stigmas... but again there are women who never have an issue and end up having it it is a complicated disease (or so now i think it is classed as an autoimmune disorder?) and never affects no two women the same

I got a response from my RE. She said that my symptoms sound like I could, and she can "find" endo in about 50% of women she does a lap on. She also said it shouldn't effect somebody trying to conceive using donor eggs or sperm. I have many issues with this! First off, we're NOT using donor anything. I'm a bit ticked that she would say that, like she doesn't know what our treatment plan is. Second, I don't want you to go "looking" for it. I had a genuine concern, and I didn't feel like I got a genuine answer. I love my RE but this response really ticked me off!

trust me if you have it, the dr if they are good, shouldn't have to "go looking for it" mine was very visible and I am not as bad as some women... I htink I would just clarify with her and make her aware of how her answer made you feel

Thank you! I did not know endo affects so many women is such different ways. I never get cramps but I always get low back pain which a former gyno said was caused by a tilted uterus maybe it is from endo. It hurts to pee on the first day of my period and whether or not I am on my period, my insides feel like the are being ripped apart whenever I sneeze. I have an appt with my gyno in a little over a month so I will discuss it with her then. I guess it is best to be informed before I move on with ivf.

@kristibell and nellysgirl. yeah, good to know. this is the first time I've been off birth control in 7 years and my endo has come back with avengence. turns out that bc pills silence a lot of endo symptoms.

also, the endo can impact the ovaries and tubes which can impact ivf (see previous post on the tubes bit)..

I hope you don't have it, but if you do - as all of my friends say "I know lots of women with endo who have babies."

to which I want to tell them to shove it. :-P
Ok, that's just the endo talking. I'm a bit crabby this week.

As the ladies have posted, the only sure way to know is through a laparoscopy. I had all the symptoms for years.......mine started as a young teen!!! Horrible periods...cramps to the point that I would throw up the first two days of my cycle. I had horrible issues with my bowel movements. During my cycle, I would become so constipated that I would just want to cry....sorry for the TMI. I knew that something was off, but all my docs would say....oh that's normal. The first time I sat down with my RE, he said "Without the surgery, I can't diagnose you, but I am positive you have endometriosis" That was all it took for me.....I had the surgery in July and this cycle was a little rough......no where near the cramps as before.....just some heavy bleeding (which I believe may be from the birth control not letting me actually bleed last cycle) sorry for the TMI again!!

I would definitely request your physician to do a laparoscopy and possibly a hysteroscopy. The surgery is fairly minor. My surgery was on a Monday and I was back to work on that Wednesday. I work in an office and they allowed me to take it easy. But overall, I was good!!

Best wishes!!

I am a nice person, and I am sure his princess meant well...but...
First a hysterectomy does not cure endo, second most laps have a longer recovery time (3 days to 2 weeks), and third, suggesting a hysterectomy for TTC is insane.

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
Just my opinion.

endo, sweetie, she said hysteroscopy, not hysterectomy. lol..a hysterectomy cerrtainly wouldn't help ttc :)

Heeee heeeee heeeeee. :-)
See? My happy thoughts worked!! :-)


Ok, I now will think of baby dust, baby dust, baby dust...

Please look up Dr Camran Nezhat and read the info on his website about endo and infertility. He has helped thousands of women (including myself), and is one of the most knowledgeable Drs when t comes to endometriosis. There are so many women that go through life thinking they can't have children when they actually have endometriosis and just need surgery to remove the implants. I hope this helps!