[danielle925]

I've been battling infertility for almost 2 years and have been classified as unexplained - both my husband and I. I'm curious to know that if i may have endo and I nor the drx. dont know about it. I have had bad PMS cramps when i was younger (16-19 yrs old) but i am always on schedule with my period and now that i'm 34 my pms cramps havent been bad or nothing really at all. Is there a way the drx would know just by your bloodwork, ultrasound? I'm afraid if i may have it and its going unnoticed....please help. Thank you

[lovingwife]

Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose endo is through laparoscopy(laproscopic surgery). I just had a lap in March to diagnose and remove stage 2 endo. I didn't have the classic symptoms of endo but my doctor suspected I may have it due to my infertility and he noticed a tenderness on my uterus. If you have had those kinds of symptoms in the past you should defintely ask your doctor about a lap. 2 cycles after the lap I got pregnant naturally! Feel free to pm me if you have any questions about the procedure. The good thing about the lap is, once they are in there, they remove the endo which makes you more fertile.

[Georgia Girl]

I wasn't diagnosed either until my lap...my RE suspected it though. I had NO classic symptoms so I was shocked.

[danielle925]

will insurance cover a lap test? how should i bring it up to my drx? I'm undergoing IVF#2 right now....if it fails, can i go right away into a lap surgery? how long does the lap last and how long do you have to wait to start ttc'ing again?

sorry so many questions....i just have that feeling that i may have it and want to find out once and for all.

[lovingwife]

My insurance covered it as diagnostic. You might want to check with your company. I would just flat out tell your RE that you would be interested in doing a lap to rule out endo. It sucks that you can have it and not have any symptoms. My RE said I would be most fertile for 6-9 months after the lap. Endo can grow back. I started bding a week after my lap when I ovulated. As long as you're feeling up to it, you can ttc right away. I don't know about IVF.

[Sarahb]

Originally Posted by danielle925

will insurance cover a lap test? how should i bring it up to my drx? I'm undergoing IVF#2 right now....if it fails, can i go right away into a lap surgery? how long does the lap last and how long do you have to wait to start ttc'ing again?

sorry so many questions....i just have that feeling that i may have it and want to find out once and for all.

Hi Danielle,

The fact that you are unexplained may very well indicate endo.

For me, all my blood tests and DH's SA were completely normal and my cycle was regular. My only symptoms of endo were bad cramps during AF.

I had an HSG and my original dx was a blocked right tube by RE #1 who wanted to go straight to IVF. I knew I was moving and my new state mandates 1 covered IVF so I waited.

RE #2 did u/s and 4 IUIs when I was ovulating from the unblocked left side (or bilateral O). In fact, it looked like I favored my left, which, to my mind, would make me unexplained as well. When I got all BFNs, at that point RE #2 suspected endo and scheduled a Lap.

I was very scared about the Lap- mostly about the anesthesia. I went in at 5:30 a.m. for 7 a.m. surgery. I had an IV put in before I went to the OR. When I got to the OR I was knocked out w/in seconds. I woke up at about 9:30 in recovery and was going in and out of sleep. The RN said my surgery took 1/2 hour. I was discharged by noon. That day and the next I rested. It hurt to stand and I had pain at the incision site. By the next day, I was
moving around better. I had some bruising around the incision. Now, the only scar I have is a little pink line inside my belly button.

My RE said that I had endo that caused some adhesions on my left side that were interfering with ovulation so he removed them. He was also able to unblock my right tube. I feel relieved to find out something was wrong all these years. I strongly recommend that you ask your RE if he can do a lap. It is the ONLY way to find most endo. Endo is very prevalent, probably because of all the toxins we have been exposed to. 40% of women w/endo suffer IF. If you have endo, your chances of success with IVF are greatly reduced unless you do it w/in 9 months of removing any adhesions, so you could be wasting money if no lap is done.

A Lap is for suspected endo so should be covered by all insurance b/c it is not technically IF treatment. The RE should be able to do a hysteroscopy at the same time to see if there is anything unusual in your uterus (like very small polyps) that would interfere with implantation. I just got my bill and it was a $15 co-pay.

This is my 1st post-lap cycle and I am doing clomid + IUI so you can try again right away.

Hope that answers your questions! I know before my Lap I had tons!!!

Good luck!
Sarah

[Tabitha]

I was diagnosed with stage IV endo after lap surgery, and I didn't have severe symptoms. My obgyn first suspected endo after we weren't being able to get pregnant for two years. He performed a transvag. ultrasound and saw what looked like endometriomas on my ovaries. At that point he recommended lap surgery. It can't hurt to bring it up at your next RE appt.

[Kellileanne]

I was diagnosed during a lap that was scheduled after seeking help from my gyn for severely painful af and intercourse. I was diagnosed with stage 1 at that time (2003).

[TMY]

I have endo. If you have painful periods or heavy bleeding those are some more classic signs.

[mdbrum16]

They found mine through a lap. I was having terribly heavy cycles (TMI) with lg. clots sizes of tangerines. Intercourse was also painful and I started my cycles earlier and earlier. Since the surgery they have pretty much went back to normal.

[wantabigbelly]

I've been TTC for almost 2 years and my doc suspects I have endo. yet is encouraging me to go through with IVF rather than a Lap. I'm not ready for IVF and plus it would just seem like the first step should be to go through a lap. to diagnose my situation.

He's discouraging a lap because of the recovery time and says it's not a walk in the park, etc.

I thought it would just be a couple of days rest, yet he's telling me I have to plan on bedrest for a week.

Want to know what your experience was like with the lap. Was it painful? Long recovery period? How soon were you back at work?

[CassCass]

I had a lap done at the end of last sept. and I would recommend it before going thru IVF. The lap was a little painful but i felt instantly better after surgery. I had alot of endo removed though so that may be the cause of my mood after. I would say it takes about 2 to 3 days to be ok for work, depending on the work situation, but definately by a week you should feel like a million bucks! I know I did! I also did the 6 months of lupron shots after and am just about to officially start ttc. On my first cycle since the lupron. I hope I have a big belly soon !

[wantabigbelly]

Thanks for sharing!! It encourages me that you felt OK 2 to 3 days after the surgery : )

I've always suffered from really bad cramps w/my periods and then I usually feel like a dull discomfort throughout the month that gets worst with activity. I've always heard of girls w/endo having terrible disabling cramps throughout the entire month and now that I've read a few postings, I see some girls don't even have symptoms!!

I really hope to get rid of the cramping but even more, I'm eager to have a baby!!!

What does Lupron do?? Is it typical to go on Lupron after the endo.? and are you not supposed to ttc while on Lupron? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to all this : ) Best of luck to you!!

[CassCass]

I had lots of pain but it was thought to be stomache problems for about 3 years. Then, only after TTC my doc says something isnt right?! You arent ovulating at all. He found this out by chlomid and 21 day blood draws every month. Come to find out my tubes were blocked. This was discovered by a hsg. NOT FUN at all!!! So after the lap and 6 months of lupron (in 2 shots lasting 3 months each) I had another hsg done in april and tubes are not blocked anymore. Come to find out they were just enflamed closed from the endo. So about the lupron. My doc started me on it diretly after the lap and as much of the endo was removed as possible. It sends you into a false meanopause kindof. Mood swings and hot flashes like you wouldnt believe. I wanted to kill everyone!! But anyway the purpose is to shrink what little endo that might have been left behind by the lap. They say that you have a better chance to ttc if you do the lupron. It is also an option i think instead of a lap for mild endo patients. The bad news, HOT FLASHES, MOOD SWINGS, and you cant get pregnant on lupron. Well for one thing, you dont have a cycle just some break through bleeding and its advised not to try while on it. Im not sure you could even if you did try! I wish right?! So this means if you do want to do it, more waiting, but it seems promising to me so far. I will let you know!

[lovingwife]

I had stage 2 endo with NO symptoms. Other than infertility. My RE didn't even want us to do IUI without doing the lap first. He suspected I had endo based on an internal exam-he found a tender spot on my uterus. It took me about a week to recover from the lap. The first 2 or 3 days were pretty rough, but everyone recovers differently. I felt normal after about a week. It's not a horrible procedure and so worth it if it helps you to conceive. I got pregnant naturally my 2nd cycle after the lap. We were prepared to do IUI, but got a BFP instead. Can you go to a different doctor? I think I would get a second opinion.