Questions regarding TTC/potential issues - Trying to Conceive (TTC) Message Board

kdawg33 · 01-17-2006, 08:25 AM

My husband and I are starting to talk about starting a family. Ideally we would start in about a year when he is finished with his MBA. I am currently 31 but will be 32 when we start. I know age plays a factor...BUT, I now realize I may have other problems other than just age. When I was 26 I had a lap to remove a cyst. While the doctor removed the cyst, they apparently also "scraped" some endometriosis. The doctor told my Mom this once the operation was completed and said the endo was minor. Apparently so minor that it was never actually told or explained to me at my post op.

At the time I thought nothing of it because neither did my doctor, and I wasn't experiencing endo symptoms. Now that I am thinking about a family, I am starting to wonder if I am going to have any problems. I know none of you have a crystal ball...but am I screwed? From what I read, 80% of women have endo that is progressive and the older we get, the likelihood of conception drops even further with endo.

This may be TMI, but I had a lot of unprotected sex as a dumb college student. At the time I thought was invincible...but now I am wondering if I am infertile because I probably should have gotten pregnant. God I was dumb back then...

gel2005 · 01-17-2006, 09:05 AM

The only way for you to know for sure is to try. My mom had endo, really bad infact. They told her she would never have kids. After they had tried for 6 years they decided to adopt. However; she got pregnant with me, then 3 more times after that. There is always hope. I had a friend who had the worse endo you can get. She had both external and internal endo. The dr's told her she would never naturally concive. The first pregnancy was helped along by drs. After the first kid they thought they wouldn't have any more, but she got pregnant on her own the second time. There is always hope. Maybe you were just lucky as a college student. It all depends where the endo is. It runs in my family and all the females who have it also have had kids. Don't give up hope just yet. If you are concerned you can talk to your dr and also research online. I will be thinking of you and best luck!

danimal15 · 01-17-2006, 11:23 AM

It's none of my business, of course, but why wait until your husband is done with his degree? There's never going to be a perfect time to start a family, and it's always going to be a major life-change/challenge no matter where you are in life. Seeing as you have this concern, I'd recommend just getting started. I know too many people who put off trying only to then realize it wasn't going to be as easy as they thought and biological time was clicking away. As for finishing a degree while having kids, my wife and I had two kids while she was working on her Ph.D - and somehow we managed to get by. She even graduated.

Sylvia224 · 01-17-2006, 02:10 PM

Hi, I understand your stress. I am 30 and my husband and I are just now trying (I had a miscarriage last year) and it is not going too well. But really, I would not worry at all about the endo. My cousin had severe endometriosis. They said she may never concieve, but she did almost right away. Unfortunately, that one was a tubal pregnancy, that often happens with endo. However, she got pregnant again just a few months later, had a healthy daughter and another daughter followed less than two years later. I know it's stressful, but I feel very sure you have nothing to worry about. Good luck!

kdawg33 · 01-17-2006, 05:50 PM

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful remarks. I know I need to stay positive and not operate from fear. I have a tendency to do that.

We just decided that we want to have kids. Honestly, I have been on the fence until now. I am not super career woman either...rather I lost my Father at 13 and I have a hard time forming attachments. Children seemed like too much of an emotional risk and I was afraid I would be a lousy Mother.

Since we just decided this week, I don't want to start now. Deciding was a very huge step for me in this process...a process I do not take lightly at all. There is no perfect time and there may be some factors that may prevent a pregnancy, but I need to do this in "baby" steps...HA! I kill me sometimes.

I also think waiting a year gives us time to really see if we are committed...I really need to WANT to have a child. This is all very new to me. I was never your typical woman who always knew they were going to have a child. This is very uncharted territory for me.

Thanks again and more input is welcome!