Hi ladies, please excuse me of using English here. I'm an expat moved to NL years ago. Diagnosed with explained infertility is a frustrating experience, especially when I am in a foreign country, I feel very lonely without support, that's why I want to join this forum here. I diagnosed with unexplained infertility last year, tried 2 rounds of IUI already, but no success yet. I know people may say "you just tried two rounds, why so desperate", but I really have a strong feeling I have endometriosis myself, reason being 1) my mom has it herself; 2) I have really painful period since really young age. However, Dutch doctor never agreed with what I thought, and no test other than ultrasound has been taken on me to "screenout" endometriosis. Besides, my families and friends all told me it is my stress that keep me from being pregnant. To be honest, I'm really getting tired of hearing these, or even feel more depressed. So right now, I started to check if I can do anything outside of Netherlands to do more tests. I find some ladies did more tests in UZ Ghent/Jette/Cuyper & Cuyper after IVF failed. And I heard some ladies even later found the reason is because of their silent endometriosis. What are your experience of unexplained infertility? Anyone eventually find your reason why? How did you find it out. I really want to hear about your experience. Thank you very much!
May be you can first do a second opinion in a different Dutch hospital? There are hospitals that are more specialized in endometriosis. And I think they will agree to check it out (based on your symptoms).
Hi DR 87, Thank you very much for your message! This is a good idea! I will ask my doctor to write a referral letter to me in order for me to gather a second opinion, I hope they will agree with that. Thanks again and hope you all the best!
Weird question: Is your doctor male or female? My sister tried to get diagnosed with endometriosis too because she can only crawl around from the pain she has. All the female doctors said: pain is part of having a period. When she had a male doctor and told him how many ibuprofen she had to take before they worked he did believe her it was not normal.
It's typical Western meds to think your period should be painful or something. In Chinese we say if it is painful there is stasis, which gives pain and also prevents you from getting/staying pregnant. A period should be without pain, without headaches, without drippling before or after, etc.
And TS.. get a second opinion, have your blood checked out in Germany or Belgium. Visit an acupuncturist if you feel ok with it. And don't lose hope
Which hospital are you going to right now? And in which aria do you live? Not all Dutch hospitals are the same. To add 1 extra on tou list of hospitals in België. you have Life center. They go pretty far with the "uterus" check.
I am one of the females who have diagnosed many years during our fertility traject with unexplained infertility and who have get the diagnoses endometriosis after the whole traject (because I also have had the feeling this was what was wrong because of my stomach pain), 8 years after I stopped with anticonception. I went to a specialized hospital with a special department for endometriosis (Endometriose in Balans in het HMC Bronovo in Den Haag). When you have the feeling something is wrong, I recommend you to get a second opinion in a specialized hospital. During my fertility traject I went to Düsseldorf (Dr. Cuypers) and UZ Gent. In both clinics / hospitals they wouldn't do further examination to endometriosis. Good luck and don't lose hope.
Thank you for you best wishes. The information is actually very helpful. I also find Balans online, really helpful to hear from you that they actually helped you to diagnose your endometriosis. I am planning to schedule an appointment there soon. Also very surprising to hear UZ Gent and Cuypers & Cuypers did not do in-depth diagnosis for Endometriosis. I heard a lot of good words about them online, but if they are not doing further examination to endometriosis, I think definitely worth to visit more professional clinics specialised in this area to screen out Endometriosis first. Best wishes to you as well! Thank you again for the information you provided!
Hi ladies, thank you all for your advice. After long discussion with my doctor, she finally agrees with doing a laparoscopy on me to make sure if I have endometriosis or not.