r/TTCEndo

Has anyone gotten pregnant naturally with a moderate sized endometrioma (5.7cm) without surgery? If so how long did it take? I was recently diagnosed with endometriosis due to the endometrioma found and my doctor said I shouldn’t worry about not getting pregnant because im not having any other signs of endometriosis besides irregular periods. I want to believe her but I haven’t heard of many people getting pregnant without surgery. I have a consult with a surgical specialist to get their opinion as well but was just curious.

Positivity only!

I just had an HSG and all went great and was clear. There was debris that he pushed out. My OBGYN said he does not want to do another lap and said that he is confident that I will have success in getting pregnant in the next 3 months. Anyone have success in getting pregnant after HSG and having endo.

Would love to hear experiences of those who ended up being diagnosed with silent endo or adenomyosis. We’ve had 7 early losses and now also with 2 euploid donated embryos. The farthest we’ve made it is 8 weeks. I’ve had several doctors over the years and I have PCOS and my husband has chromosomal translocations, so this is what our first 5 losses were attributed to. My doctor doesn’t want to change our protocol for our next embryo transfer but I feel like we’re missing something. Of all the doctors I’ve seen over the years, none seem very concerned about possible endo as we get implantation, but then the babies fail to grow/progress. Am I crazy for wanting to proceed with an ex lap just to be sure? I don’t want to have an unnecessary surgery but it seems strange to me that no one has wanted to rule it out yet.

Okay so.. long story short, I’m 29 years old and my and my husband have been trying to conceive for 8 months now. By month 6, I knew something wasn't right so I went in for a pap and some bloodwork. (I know they say wait until 12 months of trying but I know my body). Everything came back normal other than my AMH, which was extremely low at a 0.013.

My OBGyn immediately referred to a fertility clinic where I started doing testing. After a transvaginal ultrasound, HSG, and a MRI, I was diagnosed with a pretty severe case of endometriosis and distinguished ovarian reserve, and a blocked right fallopian tube.

The clinic (like a see a lot of them do) recommended that we try 3 cycles of IUI (with Letrozole, Follostim, trigger shot, and progesterone) before IVF, and they told me if I were to do IVF, I’d have to use a donor egg because they don’t think my follicles would produce enough eggs.

So I’m almost half way through my 1st IUI cycle, just went in for my check up appointment to see how my follicles were maturing and they couldn’t see anything because of my endometriosis cyst. Now I’m waiting for the Dr. to go over my ultrasound to see if they can see my follicles.

I’m just feeling discouraged about my success rate and I just want to know if there are any success stories out there similar to mine to cheer me up.

hi! i found this group recently. i don't know whether i have endometriosis or not - it was recently mentioned to me as a possibility in a pre-IUI consultation with a functional medicine midwife. i have had painful periods my entire life, and got my period in the 5th grade. my periods are not heavy, on the lighter side and last ~3 days. menstrual cramps tend to wrap around my front and back. i've vomited from severe period pain and have struggled with cramping/abdominal pain during intense exercise and shooting pains up my butt area (not exclusively during menstruation). i usually take 6-7 200 mg ibuprofen on the first few days of my period.

i'm 35 years old and currently trying to get pregnant for the first time and am approaching my 6th cycle, unmedicated at home ICI (aka syringe + fresh sperm) with a known sperm donor. no positive tests yet. i started an anti-inflammation diet 1.5 months ago with no dairy or gluten, quit coffee 5 months ago, don't drink alcohol, and do not do intense exercise anymore (mostly dancing and walking). i had a hysteroscopy in march where bilateral ostia were visualized and polypoid tissue noted throughout endometrium, both anterior and posterior uterine surfaces - all was removed. i have not had an HSG. our donor's sperm is of excellent parameters and we're pursuing a fragmentation analysis as he's on the older side (just turned 43).

i'm wondering if anyone has advice for how to go about getting evaluated for endometriosis by a medical professional. i have Kaiser and am planning to discuss this with my OB-GYN, but from what i've read on here they are often uninformed about endo and it's best to talk to a specialist. are there any symptoms that tend to trigger a more serious look? any advice for someone who's new to endo world and TTC? thank you all in advance!

It’s been a month since my laparoscopy where I was diagnosed with Stage 2 endo and lost a fallopian tube due to a Hydrosalpinx. We’ve been TTC for 18 months in total and went through a miscarriage in January at 10weeks. Since our miscarriage, we decided to take a break from trying and wait for the surgery date.

Fast forward, we’re now cleared to try again and I am lowkey panicking. It feels so terrifying to be hopeful again. I’m scared of not getting pregnant but I’m also so scared of getting pregnant and having another loss. Any advice on remaining sane is welcomed!!🫠

I am currently in the middle of a modified natural FET cycle. I did 60 days of hormone suppression with Orilissa to suppress my endo before going right into this cycle. I have been on once a day Follistim injections and I didn’t realize it would cause me to mature so many follicles! It’s uncomfortable while they are all growing, just like it was for stims, but what I’m really worried about is ovulating all of them at once, instead of having them aspirated like during the egg retrieval. 10 follicles rupturing at once during ovulation sounds soooo painful! I am working full time, have a very physical job, and am on call the next 7 days so will be working after hours/extra hours in addition to my long shifts during the day.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and what was it like??

I'm almost positive that the surgeon i saw is really the best you can get at least through insurance. I've seen some people say though that even endo excision specialists can sometimes not be as good as they claim. She has won all kinds of awards, did a fellowship in migs surgery with the DaVinci robot for a year, and has been awarded a master surgeon by the SRC. Is it possible that she's just not as good as it seems to imply?

How long after your expert endo specialist surgery did you get symptoms again?

I had my first surgery in February 2025 and she removed stage 2. Because of pain and an ultrasound that showed a concerning polyp I went back for another one September 2025. She removed stage 2 endo again. She also removed uterine fibroids and said the polyp wasn't there. Well the hysterscopy caused me to get an infection by an overgrowth of ureaplasma parvum which causes inflammation too. It caused itching and burning and done think it increases risk of miscarriage so we took a break from ttc again.

Now here I am like 9 months later and I'm in pain, not pregnant, and looking to get a hysterscopy only this time to remove yet another polyp (though this one is less concerning but my reg obgyn still thinks it needs to go if it's still there after my period).

I'm not sure that I'm ready for another lap. But when I am i can't help wonder if my surgeon just isn't as good as she says she is?

She's told me that without getting on bc it's much more likely it will regrow quickly and that she really prefers to place iuds during surgery or to do lap before ivf. But I've seen some people claim to have surgery and then not use bc and be fine for years!

I just am not sure what to think about all of this.

My IVF journey has been kind of exhausting. Started trying at 28 and didn’t get pregnant, I knew I had stage one endometriosis. Did an egg retrieval and another excision surgery, first FET was natural modified and failed. My doctor died so I had to change clinics, lost time there. Did Lupron, second FET failed, third was ectopic. Had to do methotrexate so lost more time: Did back to back ERs and got 4 euploid embryos frozen. My RE recommended a mock ERA and I got pregnant between cycles spontaneously. It looks like a blighted ovum. I’m so overwhelmed, do I just go back to IVF. I feel so defeated.

I had an excision August 2024 (stage one) and am worried maybe I’m too inflamed and that’s what keeps causing my issues. But another excision would be too soon. Ideas?

Is there anyone who had success with conceiving within the first 4-6 months of trying naturally before surgery? I have an excision surgery scheduled 4 months from now in case we are not successful with the hopes of canceling it because of getting pregnant naturally. This was my first cycle of us trying and unfortunately it ended with my period, which by the way feels like a punishment, but I’m still trying to stay positive!

After two years of TTC, including undergoing fertility treatments, I am going to take a break. I’ve already had two excisions with a specialist — these surgeries were life-changing, but I’ve had no luck with pregnancy. I’ve gained some weight in the last couple years, I think partially due to the meds I’ve been on.

I’ve read a lot about GLPs helping inflammation and am looking into micro-dosing while I’m on my break. Overall, I can’t wait to just be a human this summer and not worry about monitoring or tracking.

If you’ve micro-dosed a GLP-1, could you please share your experience? I know there are different brands/types and am wondering what the differences are.

I did 60 days of hormone suppression on Orilissa to treat my endometriosis after having 2 miscarriages after both of my FET’s. I immediately went into a modified natural cycle starting Follistim on “day 1.” I did 4 days of 75 units, then 3 days of 150 units. Today I am day 8 and I have no lining growing and no follicles growing at all still! My previous FETs were natural and I have never had any problems growing my lining or follicles. I feel so frustrated, especially because I took off work for the week I was expecting my transfer to be because I do a lot of heavy lifting at my job and that always makes me so nervous right after my transfer. Originally my clinic told me I was going to do a medicated cycle and had my appointments and FET procedure already scheduled. Now it looks like it might not happen that week and I just feel frustrated that nothing is happening! If anyone else went into a modified natural cycle right after hormone suppression with Orilissa, how long did that cycle take you?? My nurse just keeps saying I’m the only patient she’s had on Orilissa so she doesn’t know, and I only get to talk to my doctor during consult appts, which I wouldn’t be able to get any time soon.

Update: my estrogen today is up to 95. My RE is having me continue the same dose of Follistim 150units a day for 3 days and then go in for another monitoring appt.

Day 11 update: My lining is still thin at 5.5mm. I now have 10 follicles growing which is insane. The dominant one is 11mm.

I had endometriosis but I am trying to conceive since last few months. MY breast stopped hurting today but I haven't got my periods yet. It started hurting after ovulation. MY periods date was 8 June. My throat is like dry every time. I am feeling like my periods are about to come since 3 days but nothing happens till now.

Is there any possibility of pregnancy?

First cycle TTC after my lap on May 19th (stage 1 endo excised). My husband and I have conceived 4 out of 5 cycles TTC but have had 4 consecutive losses. My surgeon cleared us to start trying right away and we waited until I got my period post lap. Started a protocol of lovenox and progesterone at 3dpo. Safe to say I’m out this cycle and I’m throwing myself a pity party. Ready to move on to the next cycle.

How many cycles did it take for you to conceive post lap?

Background: 30y/o, stage 4 endo, bilateral blocked tubes, bilateral endometriomas (right: 4.5,2.5cm left 2cm), left ovary “stuck” behind uterus, uterus “lodged” to the left

Egg retrieval #1: 7 follicles “responding”, 16 retrieved, 12 fertilized, 3 biopsied, and 2 euploid (day 5 and day 6 4BA)

1.5 months apart

Egg retrieval #2: 9 follicles “responding”, 10 retrieved, 8 fertilized, 1 biopsied (day 6 4BC)

Waiting PGTA

Surgery: mid August

I need surgery for my endometriomas and pain but I’m terrified results will be worse. Anyone had better results post surgery? How soon after surgery did you do a retrieval? I want to do it asap as I’m moving around 8 months post surgery and want to stay with my clinic for as many retrievals and transfers as possible.

TYIA!!

Hi! I have endometriosis, stage 3. Excised on 4/17. This is now our 17th cycle trying. I didn’t know I had endo until 5 months into TTC (ultrasound found an endometrioma).

After that finding (June 2025), we immediately went to a fertility clinic. Many failed medicated cycles and three chemicals (two natural and one with a medication), and still nothing yet. All of this led me to have the lap in April of this year (excised all endo and detained my 2cm endometrioma). Unfortunately, we have not been successful post surgery yet. On my 3rd cycle since.

Besides the surgery, my husband had a SA and DNA fragmentation. I had a hysteroscopy w/ D&C during my lap (normal), HSG in Dec 2025 (normal), relatively normal labs (working to optimize some with my naturopathic doctor - no insulin resistance, good A1C, normal thyroid, hormones as good), EMMA/ALICE (normal uterine microbiome), CD138 (negative for chronic endometrITIS), vaginal microbiome (a little bit of ureaplasma so my husband and I are taking doxy), did a GI map in August 2025 (lots of GI issues - cleaned that up and no longer have pain). We both have normal karyotypes, I had a normal RPL panel, normal NK cells/IL6/TNF-alpha (no systemic inflammatory concerns). I take baby aspirin and progesterone suppositories during my luteal phase (hasn’t helped us conceive/still lost a pregnancy on this combo).

I am trying to prioritize any-inflammatory foods (but I’m not perfect). I have reduced my alcohol intake and caffeine as well.

I don’t know what else to do. I’m lost. We have exhausted all the diagnostic testing we can do. Not sure if we should even try more medicated cycles. I would really like to avoid IVF, but it’s not off the table. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Hi all. Feeling quite low today as this is the last cycle before the 1 year mark of actively trying (tracking ovulation, making lifestyle changes). I (31F) have a history of endometriosis diagnosed and excised via laparoscopy 4.5 years ago - tubes open and no endometriomas. AMH of 2.2. Normal uterus and transvaginal ultrasounds. Progesterone day 7 test normal, as well as prolactin and thyroid blood tests. My husband (M32) and I live a very healthy and active lifestyle, rarely drink alcohol. My husband had a SA and count and motility were good but morphology was 3% - dr didn’t seem too concerned and he’s also taking vitamins. I’m taking a prenatal and vitamin D as well as myo inositol as per the last fertility doctor I saw. We have seen 2 fertility doctors and it feels like no one takes us seriously due to our “young age”…We want a few kids so we really don’t want to wait too long. I have never been pregnant before. Every cycle is a disappointment after another and it is so triggering to see so many people (who live awful lifestyles) get pregnant so quickly and easily. I’m trying my best to stay positive but this 12 month mark somehow feels deeply sad as we will “officially” be deemed infertile… does anyone have any advice or experience please? Or suggestions on next steps?

I had excision surgery yesterday. Shockingly, instead of the mild endo my doctor and I both thought he would find, it turns out I had stage III-IV DIE!

I am in complete shock that my endo was so severe. I truly thought it would be mild, and was even fully prepared to wake up and be told there was nothing at all. I have practically zero classic symptoms. The only reason I even started looking into endo was because of 18 months of secondary infertility and repeat pregnancy loss. My periods are short, light, and zero pain. But my mom had endo/adeno so I also had the family history along with infertility and that was enough to give it a shot and see.

It was on both pelvic sidewalls, uterus ligaments, bladder, rectum, and colon, which was attached to the pelvic sidewall. DIE in uterus ligaments and rectum. He was able to remove it all without damaging anything. Ovaries, uterus, and left tube intact and looked good. Right tube removed due to previous ectopic. Tisseel used on all surgical sites before closing.

Here are all the symptoms that I had that made me decide to pursue lap surgery, in case this helps anyone else who is on the fence without classic symptoms. Most of these are not suspicious on their own, but together pointed to the possibility of endo.

Family history

• Mom has endometriosis confirmed via lap/biopsy, and adenomyosis
• She has classic symptoms

Unexplained subfertility/infertility

• In ~24 TTC cycles, only conceived naturally 3 times despite confirmed ovulation, healthy sperm, and good timing

HSG-dependent conception

• Only ever conceived naturally in the 1-2 months post HSG
• HSG effectiveness appears to be declining over time, consistent with progressive endo 
  • First 2 HSGs resulted in conception, 3rd and 4th no conception

Recurrent early losses

• 2 chemicals
• 1 ectopic (fresh IVF transfer)
• RPL panel normal, ruled out clotting disorders, thyroid, chromosomal issues
• Doxy trial for suspected chronic endometritis in May 2025, no subsequent natural conceptions

Very painful ovulation

• Lasts all day, sometimes 2 days, limits activity

Luteal phase defect

• Spotting from 3-7dpo until period
• Spotting resolves completely on progesterone, despite progesterone level being sufficient pre–supplementation (10-15)
  • Points to endometrial progesterone receptor sensitivity

   

• Periods always start with brown spotting

Early follicle recruitment/ovulation

• High baseline e2 (100-115)
• Ovulation on day 10-12
• 12mm lead follicle by day 3 in one cycle

Fatigue

• Disproportionate relative to activity level
• Specifically lower legs

Headaches

• Better on keto and tirzepatide

Weight

• Difficulty losing and maintaining healthy weight

Alcohol sensitivity

• Strong reaction to even one glass, particularly wine
• Spinning/vomiting hours later
• Possibly histamine intolerance associated with endo/estrogen dominance

Temperature-induced skin reactions

• Itchy red blotchy skin after walking briskly in cold or hot weather

Chronic year-round rhinitis

I don’t mean to trigger or feel unempathetic towards anyone because I know that there are people in different trenches - older, miscarriages, failed transfers. I just wanted to take a minute to vent. A a type A girly where everything has worked out with hard work in my life and even if it hasn’t there’s a solution to get to the end goal, this process is making me feel so frustrated, sad, mad, envious, everything all at once. I’m 33, which I know is “young” in this IVF world but I don’t feel young. I always thought by 33 I’d have 2 kids and another one by 35. As someone with older parents I wanted to have a family younger. And now we’re just stuck in this hamster wheel of IVF and Laps and trying naturally or transferring, suppressing one way or another, taking supplements and on and on, and meanwhile everyone around me is pregnant and thriving. I’m happy for them but I can’t help but grieve my situation and be so afraid of time just passing by. And then I feel guilty for feeling jealous! Also doesn’t help that all the meds just put my mind into even more spirals, and then of course there’s physical effects from weight gain to hot flashes.

I’ll be 34 soon and if our next steps don’t work then 35 when and if we are able to have a child. Not to mention things that could go wrong in between. It just feels like everyone I try to talk to about this from my husband to my mom to my friends just say it’ll work out. But we don’t know that! And even if it does we don’t know when!

Beyond just wanting to be a mom so badly, I’m so desperate to get out of this hamster wheel my life is on where I just feel like I’m walking around in a fog of emotions all the time with the occasional blip of hope that just gets dashed again. I feel like I’ve just lost who I am as a person in this process and I know regardless it will leave a mark but I need to get out of this hole I’m in. I have no motivation for anything any longer.

Really no solution to this but just wanted to vent, I’m sure there are others who feel this way. If anyone has found a way through this I’ll gladly take it, but otherwise happy to just commiserate with everyone. Ughhhhh