Since adhesions often get worse over time, or anyway the damage that they cause gets worse over time, you should probably be looking at this with the mindset that you want to get pregnant first and worry about the adhesions later. If the adhesions are causing your fertility problems (or contributing) then you should also be aware that the very best adhesion surgeons are also top-notch when it comes to clearing blocked tubes and otherwise fixing the adhesion-caused infertility.
I had a c-section with my first, who will be 9 in March. It was unnecessary, and very traumatic afterwards and so when I got pregnant again 3 years later I was very adamant about not wanting another c-section. I had a real sweety of an OB and I was in labor for 52 hours with #2 and it was a vaginal delivery. I didn't start having adhesion pain until 7 years after the c-section and 3 years after the vbac, but I believe that my grueling 52-hour back labor with #2 was probably an adhesion symptom. I believe that my cervix and uterus are not aligned correctly for a good functioning labor. If I had a midwife who was experienced in all sorts of positioning tricks I probably would have had an easier time of it. But anyway, I'm proof that not only can you have a pregnancy with adhesions, but a vaginal delivery, too!
A lot of women with adhesions lose uterus and ovaries early on in the game, so there aren't too many people to compare with on this, but I definitely have symptoms that are affected by ovulating and menstrating. In the last year, I have had the adhesion pain go away for 2 weeks at a time on 4 distinct occasions. Once it was during the follicular phase (the 2 weeks between the first day of a period and ovulation) and 3 times were in luteal phases (the 2 weeks between ovulation and the beginning of a period.)
Another thing to worry about is insufficient luteal phase. When you are pregnant, the hormone that tells your body that you are pregnant is progesterone. The placenta secretes it in large amounts, and as long as your body detects the progesterone it acts to nourish the pregnancy. When you ovulate, the follicle that the egg comes out of has about a 2-week supply of progesterone in it. This gives the baby 2 weeks to grow large enough so that it puts out enough progesterone on its own so that your body realizes that it is pregnant. If you are not producing enough progesterone from the ovary to tide you over until the baby gets big enough, then your body can start a period because it never realizes that you are pregnant. I am convinced that adhesions around the ovaries can interfere with the progesterone getting out into the body. If you are consistently having a luteal phase less than 12 days long, then this can be treated very easily by having you take progesterone every day from when you ovulate for a good solid 2 weeks to give any pregnancy a chance.
I have pretty minor adhesion symptoms, and I believe that the people here on this group have literally saved my belly. My doctor was all set to send me off to a surgeon to go in and cut the adhesions, and when I said, "but won't surgery make them worse?" she said, "Well, I suppose it COULD but that would be pretty rare." I found this site, and researched myself, and concluded that the situation where surgery does not make them worse is the rare one!
Good luck... I know that infertility treatments are a real roller coaster ride, and I hope you are one of the ones who has success and without too much more messing around!
At Mon, 25 Nov 2002, Robin M wrote:
>
>Dear Kim
>I do know it is possible to get pregnate while having adhesions. I had
>adhesions with my last 2 pregnancies. I never had any trouble becoming
>pregnant. I really don't know any answers for you, but, I guess the
>story you posted, touched me. Don't give up, someone with answers will
>answer you. I do think Germany with spray gel is your best answer.
>Surgery is the only way they can diagnose adhesions. Adhesions can only
>be "seen" if they are pulling an organ or something out of shape. I
>have bladder adhesions too, so I know what kinds of problems are caused,
>but I had a hysterectomy several years ago, so I really cant help with
>what the adhesions are stuck to. I wish you luck in your quest.
>robin M
>
>At Mon, 25 Nov 2002, kim morrisey wrote:
>>
>>I am somewhat new to this forum....have only posted a few times about a
>>month ago. But I need some help.
>>
>>I have had two laproscopic surgeries this year. The first in February
>>to remove an ovarian cyst. Unfortunately the cyst persisted (the doctor
>>only drained it and it resealed). A few months after the surgery I
>>started feeling pelvic pain isolated pretty much to my bladder area...a
>>pulling feeling. The pain was more intense during the second half of my
>>cycle, when my hormones fluctuated post-ovulation. Like many of you, I
>>was tossed around to different doctors, never even heard the term
>>"adhesion" from any of them.
>>
>>I am also experiencing fertility problems for the past 2 years. In late
>>September, my new OBGYN/Reproductive Endocronlogist scheduled me for
>>another lap. to remove the ovarian cyst. What she found when she went
>>in, was not only a cyst, but adhesions binding my uterus to my bladder,
>>with a spot of endometriosis right in the middle (more endo underneath
>>the uterus as well). All was removed (except for some small fibroids)
>>and we were supposed to start Inseminations, etc. in October.
>>
>>Two weeks after the surgery, around ovulation time, my bladder was
>>killing me again...more pulling and pain. When I went to visit my
>>doctor, she insisted my pain was not OBGYN related and sent me off to
>>the Gastoenterologist, Urologist, etc. Thankfully, all tests (and I
>>have MANY) have come back normal. Urologist started me on Neurontin
>>about 5 weeks ago. My pain stopped the day after my period began and I
>>was good for 2 weeks. Now, my pain started back up after ovulation
>>again this month.
>>
>>I am almost sure this pain is related to adhesions since it feels the
>>same way as when my bladder was adhered to my uterus. The pain is
>>tolerable but constant, so I guess I need to put my quest to become
>>pregnant on the side once more. I would think getting pregnant (if my
>>body even allowed it to happen) could be dangerous, especially if the
>>adhesions are in the same place.
>>
>>I am confused as to my next steps...here are some questions:
>>
>>1)I have had an MRI - is it safe to assume adhesions will not show up on
>>a pelvic MRI?
>>2)Is another surgery the only answer for diagnosing this?
>>3)If I do need another surgery, what are my next steps for finding a
>>doctor? I am in NY area, and know of Reich and Redan. However, I know
>>we don't have spray gel in the US yet. How long would it take for me to
>>get an appointment and surgery scheduled in Germany with Dr. Kruchinski?
>>How would I go about setting this up? Does Dr. Reich also perform
>>surgery in Germany with Dr. Kruchinski?
>>
>>I appreciate your help. This board is amazing! If it wasn't for all the
>>information on this board, I would be feeling very alone and confused.
>>Thanks to all who take the time to post and help others.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Kim
-- cathy :-)