QuestionI am 36 and have been experiencing increasing pelvic pain, both during my periods and when I ovulate. It has gotten to the point that I have trouble sleeping and my back will hurt so much I can't walk without limping. Painkillers like ibuprofen don't seem to help much. I have also been infertile, and trying to get pregnant, for the last 18 months. I suspect I may have endometriosis, but my GYN says there is little point to having a laparoscopy. She says half the time, no endo is found, and even if it is done and you have it removed, it will come back in 3-8 months. She says I should just take more ibuprofen and live with the pain and other symptoms. I also have a friend who was denied health insurance because she was treated for endo in the past, so I am wondering if in fact it is in my interests NOT to be diagnosed...please give me advice.
AnswerDear Laura, It is in your best interest NOT to live in pain since pain and the stress of pain is bad for your heart and other organs of your body.... Unfortunately, if you do have endometriosis, your chances of getting pregnant are slim and at age 36, your egg count is already low even if you didn't have endometriosis....
I do not agree with your doctor about NOT trying something... However, if you insist on trying to get pregnant, there is really nothing the doctors can do.... It is true that laproscopic surgery to remove endo tissue is NOT a cure and it will come back... Even with a hysterectomy, it is NOT a sure thing that all of the endo tissue will be removed... The only way to be pain free as my daughter found out, is to take the Deprovera injetions every 3 months... This stops or reduces greatly the monthly period cycle and ovulation... If there is no ovulation, there is no or less endo tissue to grow and spread.... Yes, I said spread and endometriosis can and often does spread to the pelvic wall, the intestines, the bladder etc....
As for what you should do, this is basically YOUR decision and I can't tell you what to do...
thank you, karen
