Well, I guess it depends on if your insurance covers IVF or not?

Mine did not. I chose the laparoscopy because I was unexplained IF and also was healthy otherwise. No pelvic pain or period pain that I didn't feel was more than normal. But I had a belly full of endo. And they only found it with the lap.

I had to take a few months off between cycles though. So that part will be a bummer for you if you decide lap first.

Good luck!!

I've had two laps - one years ago and the other in March. The first time they discovered the endo, the second one they found that it had spread considerably and was hanging out on my bowels. Both times my recovery was "easy". I didn't have any complications and I'm really glad I did it. I

I had severe pain and such bad endo that you could actually see it on ultrasound which is pretty rare, so I'm a weird case. But if you DO have endo you could have tubal issues that can interfere with IVF success. I say go for the lap. It's not that bad.

I had a lap and it's what made it possible to correct the scaring in my uterus caused by Asherman syndrome. It was not apparent on an u/s but was the cause of my IF issue.
I also know a lot of girls that discovered they had endo this way.
It's surgery so it's not a walk in the park but wasn't to bad.
I would go with the lap first if it's covered by insurance. It might end up explaining your IF issue and than a plan to get you your BFP will be easier. You might still need IVF in the end but maybe you won't.
Good luck

I had no idea I had endo until my first lap. And the endo is surely why I couldn't get pregnant. 2 surgeries later and IVF worked. Good luck!

Have you had a HSG, where they put dye through your tubes? I say have a lap first, theres no point wasting cycles of IVF if theres an issue that could be corrected. In my case I had tubes blocked with fluid ( a hydrosalpinx) which was revealed in a hsg but the severity could only be decided with a lap. I did some reseach and this fluid can drain into the uterus and prevent implantation which could render IVF pointless.
In the end I requested they clip my tubes if they were blocked with this type of fluid to allow implantation during IVF. Thank god I did, 2nd transfer and I am currently 15 weeks pregnant. I don't know if without that Lap I would be able to say that!

Good luck but I recommend a Lap, recovery is fine and you have nothing to lose really!?

Going off what Nedico said - during my last lap I had the HSG plus a hysteroscopy done during my lap. I also had a cystoscopy done which is where they look into your bladder but unless you have urinary issues you probably don't need that done.

Thanks for all of your feedback. It sounds like Lap is probably the way to go. Nedico, I did have an HSG a year ago which indicated all was good and normal. So, nothing was identified there. The doctor did say, "if I were a betting man, I would guess it is endometriosis."

Amanda, I agree with the other ladies. Go the route of a lap first and I would suggest since you will already be under, also do a hysteroscopy so they can see inside your uterus. I regret doing my first IVF before my lap because they corrected things during my lap that could have made my first IVF successful.

Good luck!