Hey Rach
Thanks for the extra push. I'm almost certain I have some level of it from talking with just a few other women who have had it and from the reading I've done. If I need a heating pad and 4 advil to get through the first afternoon of AF, there is something going on, right? Thing is they've been like this for as long as I can remember so I can't tell if it is just that I'm a whimp or if these are def. endo symptoms. Hey how many months pg are you now? Congratulations!
xxx

I would say you have more than enough symptoms to suspect endo. I felt exactly the same as you...what if they open me up and there isn't anything??? But what if they don't and there IS? Even if it's not endo, there might be something else that's causing the pain. But the fact you have very painful periods AND infertiliity - well I would bet money on endo being a key culprit. Let me know how you get on? Where are you based?

I am three months pregnant

Hey
We are based in New York. We have an appt with RE on Sept 27th and that question about endo is at the top of my list. Think it is worth seeing another OBGYN before him? Where are you based?

Three months pg is indeed!

I am in New Zealand. LOL! They have just done a story on the news here about people from the US and 'medical tourism' in NZ - apparently the care is good here and a lot cheaper...Fancy a Pacific holiday??? Could be worth thinking about???

You'll have to forgive my ignorance but I'm not sure what an RE is? Is it some kind of repoductive specialist??

What I would recommend is either getting a referral from your GP to somewhere like:

http://nygyn.com/

http://www.endometriosistreatmentnewyork.com/

or, if they won't refer you, contact them directly yourself.

I'm not sure how your healthcare system is structured but here, the procedure was covered by my insurance. It would also have been possible to go through the public health system but it would have taken a bit longer.

The difficulty with diagnosis is that endo can ONLY be confirmed with a laparoscopy. Better than laparotomy though, I suppose. The specialist should 'score' you, based on your symptoms but I had exactly the same as you: clear tubes, regular ovulation, no male factor, painful periods....

Good luck and let me know if you need any more info.

Ps. Here's 'Fuzzie'. He wishes you all the best too!

Wow, Rach, thanks for bringing this up. Can either of you give me a sense of what (other than painful periods) might indicate endo? I'm wondering if there's a reason for me to get checked out for this as well.

Hi,

Of course everyone is different but my main signs were unexplained infertililty, painful periods and pelvic pain. In the list below I have put a yes to the other symptoms I suffered.

Pelvic pain is the most common symptom. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, however a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain at other times during her monthly cycle.

For many women, but not everyone, the pain of endometriosis can unfortunately be so severe and debilitating that it impacts on her life significant ways.

Pain may be felt:

before/during/after menstruation (yes)
during ovulation (yes)
in the bowel during menstruation (yes)
when passing urine
during or after sexual intercourse (yes)
in the lower back region (yes)

Other symptoms may include:

diarrhoea or constipation (in particular in connection with menstruation) (yes)
abdominal bloating (again, in connection with menstruation) (yes)
heavy or irregular bleeding (yes)
fatigue (yes)

The other well known symptom associated with endometriosis is infertility. It is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis are subfertile.

Info taken from Endo Assoc.

I fall into the Unexplained category as well. I fell pregnanct 4 years ago with no problem wich ended in m/c and now I cannot seem to fall at all. Earlier this year had bloods and SA done, then refered to a specialist who ordered a HSG. All this came back fine, so he suggested a laparoscopy as he said about 70% of women who fall into the unexplained category have endo even if they do not know they have it or have any symptoms. I had the lap done and he found a significant amount of endo which he cut out. I didn't really have any symptoms...sometimes lower abdo pain during AF but not always, and sometimes lower back pain. I still get lower back pain now....but I think I have a niggly back anyway from a previous job I use to do. So anyway, he then put me on Clomid for 3 cycles with the last one using a trigger shot...and today I found out it hasn't worked...so now I will be doing IVF. I am pretty devistated as the pain and heartbreak of every unsuccessful cycle just kills me that bit more. What can you do but take each day as it comes. Best of luck on your ttc journeys...I hope we all get off this merry-go-round soon!

I'm sorry to hear of your struggle and I hope you get there soon.

Your surgery was only 4 months ago so give it time as your body needs to heal after the op. In truth, I went through a failed IVF cycle just 2 months before I got my BFP...my body just wasn't ready.

Do you have problems with ovulation and is that the reason you're on clomid??

Thank you for the support Rach27! For me, even though I was ovulating on my own, the specialist put me Clomid as he said one of my levels was low and was struggling a bit. So he put me on 50mg and I responded well to that dose. Last cycle he did a scan prior to a trigger shot on CD11 and there was one large follicle and two others about 3/4 the size of the larger one.

How did you find going through IVF? Did it take you awhile to get your head around it? Did you have a lap prior to IVF? How long for your body to heal? Any advice on what to expect or anything other info that may assist me?! As you can see, I am still learning and trying to understanding all this. Wishing you all the best and hope you have a happy and healthy 9 months xo

I am also UNEXPLAINED so to speak....

I got a surprise BFP in 2006 and after birth of my ANGEL nothing has worked.
No natural AF, No estrogen, No progesterone, No Ovulation.... I had all my tests done and the only problem they could find was my weight

So trying to get my weight down and see when i am at my normal range of weight what happens.... I have now in 4 months lost 39.6 pounds and 33 more to go......

Good luck ladies