I am 33 years old. Three years ago, after suffering with painful periods for more than 16 years, I was diagnosed with endometriosis and fibroids. My doctor said if I wanted children, I should have them sooner rather than later--which was a worry since there wasn't anyone special in my life. This is such a painful disease and it's been so hard to diagnose. Although I have tried to live with this, I am fed up with having a hot water bottle constantly strapped to me and taking strong painkillers that don't seem to work. I've gotten to the point where I must consider surgical treatment for this condition since I can no longer take the pain. Yet I'm devastated if it prevented me from having children. I sympathize with other women who have this condition and advise anyone who is unsure to listen to her body. It's taken me so many visits to the doctor, but hopefully surgery will be the end of this painful road.

I am 27 and was diagnosed with endometriosis at 21. I was told not to wait past age 25 to have children. I had lap with D&C and also took one dose of Lupron along with add back therapy for treatment. I tried several forms of birth control with no results. I was even more irregular and passed lg blood clots. I had my 1st child in 2009 and my 2nd in 2011. I had a boy and girl so I decided to have my tubes tied. Since I have experienced irregular periods and pain with intercourse. Saw my OBGYN PA and she suggested ablation. Still unsure of my decision, but wanted to share my story for all the young ladies out there concerned with fertility. There is hope, I became pregnant without assistance very easily despite my condition. Good Luck to all of you in your attempts to conceive.

I am 31 years old and have been dealing with endometriosis since my early 20's I have had a HSG test done and one of my tubes was blocked but still in massive pain so a year later I had a laparoscopy and was put on a shot to shut everything down so that my body could heal itself and three years later I was back to having massive pain yet again was put at the same shot again to shut everything down but it hasn't helped at all I am still in so much pain even when it's not that time of the month I will just have cramps from out of the blue that brings me to my knees and now I just don't know what to do.

In the mid 1980's, while in my early 20's, I had severe pain on and off for months. One time, while being examined by my gynocologist, I had to grab his arm and move it away from me because of the pain. He referred me to another doctor for "pain control" therapy. At that point, I would have seen anyone in hopes that it would help, but was insulted when it turned out the other doctor was a psychiatrist who was more interested in my childhood than in my pain. The fact they thought the pain was all in my head was humiliating. I found another doctor who immediately discussed endometriosis, scheduled a laparoscopy, and low and behold found the cause. He ended up doing two laparoscopies over a three year period. I have two beautiful boys now, and no problems since. I hope that someday science will offer a non-evasive test for this. Immediate diagnosis without surgery would benefit us all.

So a friend of mine has endometriosis and went through the hormonal treatments, she said her doctor told her she only has a few years to try to get pregnant before they do a hysterectomy. She really wants another baby but she hasn't gotten her period for months and it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen and she's very upset. I know absolutely nothing about endometriosis and it may sound silly but I don't quite understand everything I read about it, I'm assuming that since she hasn't gotten her period it has something to do with her eggs and I was just wondering if it would be possible for me to donate one of my eggs to her? I don't know anything about this and don't even know if that's the problem but I'd like to get an opinion about it before I talk to her about it cause I don't want her to be even more disappointed than she already is.

I am 33 and was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 18 and at that time I was put on birth control pills. The pills helped but when it came time for me to have kids I tried for 3 years to no avail. I had a laparoscopy and a laparotomy but neither surgery worked to help the pain or conceive. Fortunately, after one attempt of invetro I had twins! Yay! But after 5 years of not being on any birth control I am in severe pain again. I just started taking birth control pills again and I am not sure if it's the pills or what but the pain has gotten so much worse. I end up in bed for days at a time with severe cramps and I am now convinced I have fibroids as well. Oh and constipation to boot. And all the other junk that goes along with this disease that no one knows how to cure. My heart goes out to everyone suffering from this.