Let me start by clarifying a little something…an endometriosis diagnosis does not automatically equal infertility.
In my personal journey with the disease, it was only after an exploratory laparoscopic excision that I was diagnosed with stage three endometriosis and told that my likelihood of having children was very low. In fact, the doctor warned me that if I didn’t get pregnant in the six months following my surgery, my chance of fertility would significantly decrease.
This news explained why I was unable to get pregnant during my first marriage. It was my reason for feeling obligated to tell every serious boyfriend, including my now husband, that if they wanted children of their own, they might not want to come back for the next date. This news made me feel damaged, unsure, and less than.
For the next five years I was on hormonal birth control pills to keep my endometriosis “under control” (as my doctor called it). And it was only earlier this year that my life situation, relationship status, and self-guided research led me to take the leap and tell my doctor that I no longer needed my birth control prescription.
In four months, after deciding not to “try” but rather take the que sera sera approach, I was pregnant.
Let me pause here and recognize that I am blessed beyond measure to have conceived so quickly. I am fully aware that this is not the case for most women wanting to start a family, and my heart goes out to anyone who has been or still is in that waiting period. I will tell you that although four months is no time at all, the five plus years I spent answering the questions of why I don’t have kids, with an outward smile but internal brokenness, felt like an eternity. Many get to enter that stage of “trying” with hope and excitement, but I was distant and fearful of disappointment with my looming endometriosis diagnosis whispering doubt in my ear with every ovulation day that passed and turned into the first day of my period.
While I use words like blessed and lucky to describe my pregnancy, there are intentional steps that I took to prepare my body to “try”, and I truly believe that those actions (along with a patient husband and a whole lotta prayer) are what got me here. In the hopes that every woman who wants to become pregnant does, endometriosis diagnosis or not, I want to share what worked for me as a resource for others.
I followed an autoimmune paleo (AIP) diet.
Within a week of getting off birth control, I saw a functional nutritionist who recommended I go on a thirty day elimination diet. Certain foods can cause inflammation, hormone imbalance, and GI issues, all of which are not good for endometriosis or a possible pregnancy. I followed the AIP diet to a T, then slowly started adding foods back in, finding what my body tolerated and not so much. From there, I personally discovered that I should be avoiding gluten if I want my insides to be functioning at their best.
Now…do I still eat gluten? You bet this pizza-loving, bread making girl does. But I’m a lot pickier about when I have a “treat meal”, I’m always sure to combine those choices with a glass of kombucha (my favorite way to a healthy gut biome), and I do not try not to over-indulge. If you want to learn more about this process, click here to see my blog post detailing my exact elimination diet process and my favorite AIP recipes that I still make today.
I made the switch to toxin-free…everything.
What we put on our skin, hair, and nails, how we wash our clothes, prepare our food, and clean our homes all make a big difference in hormonal health. Xenoestrogens are a chemical found in many products we use everyday, which mimic estrogen and confuse our endocrine system. Abnormal estrogen levels are in part to blame for not only endometriosis, but other things like PCOS, PMS, and even the negative side-effects we associate with puberty and menopause.
While there are many parts of endometriosis that we can’t regulate, I’m a big fan of controlling the controllables, and how many xenoestrogens I place on, in, and around my body is one of the things I have power over. Keep reading to see all the little changes I made to ensure my body would be ready to battle endometriosis and as safe as possible for baby.
Makeup
Praise the Lord, the available options for clean makeup have sky-rocketed in the last few years and I am all about it. I have dabbled in a few different brands over the years but recently fell in love with Ilia Beauty. The true skin serum foundation is to die for and is the only liquid foundation I have ever found to actually blend right into my skin. And don’t even get me started on their mascara which is a daily must that easily competes with the others I used to swear by. If you have a makeup product about to run out (which is how I slowly converted to this all natural option), I must recommend you replace it with Ilia Beauty.
Skin care
If you would have told this former acne sufferer and self-proclaimed apricot scrub addict that I would be cleansing my face with oil one day, I would have raised my eyebrows at you. But Primally Pure has turned me into a believer, and these days it’s (literally) all you will find on my bathroom counter. Effective, smells amazing, beautiful packaging, amazing customer service…I could go on and on about this product.
If you’re curious to know my nightly routine and all my favorite products, just click here. And for 10% off your purchase at Primally Pure, use the code MANDM10!
Shampoo
Your average bottle of shampoo has over fifteen harmful ingredients in it. I won’t bore you with the details, but they’re long words I can’t pronounce, therefore they probably shouldn’t be absorbing into my (or your) scalp. By Humankind makes a shampoo bar (among other amazing products that you also must check out) that are not only safer for your body, but also better for the environment. The first bar I bought came with a free soap dish and lasted about four months between my husband and I. My hair feels clean, healthy, and soft, and this is the only shampoo I will be using from here on out.
Period management
So many period options have landed on the market since I had my last period. When the time came, I knew I had to try a menstrual cup, and after a TON of research, the me luna cup was an easy choice. Not only is it made with medical grade TPE which is better for the environment, recyclable, and less allergenic, it’s also customizable based on your activity level, birth history, pelvis type, and sexual activity. I maaayyy have had too much fun putting mine together. And the best part…literally no leakage to speak of.
If you’re interested in getting my top tips for inserting and removing a menstrual cup, be sure to click here. These can make a big difference when it comes to optimal pelvic floor health.
Household cleaning
I discovered Norwex about two years ago, and I have since, slowly but surely, eliminated all other cleaning products from my home. Clorox, comet, and scrubbing bubbles cannot be found under my sink, and I love the fact that if future baby Davis ever finds him/herself in the cabinets, I have nothing to worry about.
Norwex cloths have a super fine microfiber weaved with silver that mechanically cleans surfaces and rids them of bacteria. I trust this product so much I even use it to clean raw chicken juice from my counters! Not only does it work, but it’s also more environmentally friendly than purchasing multiple plastic bottles, and I literally use one cloth to clean nearly every surface in my house.
Laundry
Dryer sheets are equivalent to the devil in my opinion. I mean, there’s a reason they’re used to keep mosquitos and rats away. Sure, they leave my clothes smelling like fresh mountain air, but that scent is actually created by pure, adulterated chemicals. Once I discovered this little fact, I made the quick and cheap fix to dryer balls and have never looked back. Honestly, if you want to make one super easy change towards a toxin-free life today, this would be my recommendation.
It must be said that I made each of these changes over time as my budget allowed and awareness grew. And guess what…I’m still not perfect. Those Bath + Bodyworks candles still call my name every fall season and I’m sometimes too lazy to filter the water I drink. But I’m doing the best I can in the season that I’m in until I learn yet another place I can do better.
I tracked my menstrual cycle.
For a girl who hadn’t had a period in five years, this was a must. When I stopped taking birth control, I had no idea when my period would return or how my body would respond. I started by downloading a period tracker app on my phone (click here for the one I use) and recorded my basal body temperature, vaginal discharge, and even mood.
Within two months I was able to tell when I was ovulating, and we took it from there. In the spirit of my “no TMI” motto, I will tell you that we did nothing fancy in the bedroom…no special positions, no five times a day, no temperature regulation. We took the “you never know” approach and made sure to leave stress and expectations at the door.
This detailed and consistent tracking is also how I could tell that I was pregnant at about three weeks. Because I knew my body so well, I was able to recognize that something just wasn’t right (plus I was exhausted and thirsty all the time). The positive of this was that I was then able to treat my body with a little more care and grace even earlier in my pregnancy. The negative…well…I feel like I’ve been pregnant for about three extra weeks!
I stood up for myself.
Endometriosis makes you feel like you’re a crazy person. Medical professionals don’t understand you and friends and family try to get it, but they just can’t. After years of this, I learned to keep my mouth shut, stop complaining, and just do what the doctor said. They know best, right?
About a year before I decided to stop taking birth control, I started doing extensive research. This, along with my pelvic floor health knowledge, empowered me to tell…not ask, but TELL my doctor what I felt was best for me and what I wanted to try next. Yes I got eye rolls. Yes I was smugly encouraged to come back if things didn’t work out. And yes, my doctor still put in another year’s worth of my birth control prescription “just in case”.
I have a common saying in my clinic…”unless you are seeing a specialist, many doctors know a little bit about a lot”. This is not said to bash primary care physicians, but instead to encourage patients to not only seek out specialists, but to become their own expert on the topic as well. I was able to confidently present my reasons for changing my plan of care and know with my whole heart that I was doing what was best for me.
I don’t know what will happen after baby Davis is born regarding my endometriosis. While research is very clear that pregnancy does not cure the disease, many people report improvement and even resolution of endometriosis symptoms after having a baby. I can tell you that I will continue putting my health first and researching the latest when it comes to this topic. I also solemnly swear that I will share any and all findings with YOU, because that’s what friends are for, right?
From a fur mom who dreamed of being a baby mama, there is hope. And if reading these words has given you even a spark of confidence, curiosity, or peace, then mission accomplished.
Disclosure: Some the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
