'It's always in the back of your mind': Woman with endometriosis opens up about fertility journey

WHEN Sophie Lynch was diagnosed with endometriosis, one of her concerns was that she may not be able to have children as the condition can impact fertility.

After struggling to get pregnant, she gave birth to a little boy a couple of months ago.

For Sophie, from Old Cork road, it took about 10 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis.

A chronic condition as common as diabetes, endometriosis affects at least one in 10 women. The condition is caused when tissue similar to the one found in the lining of the uterus or the womb grows outside of it - where it does not belong.

To help reduce the debilitating pain caused by endometriosis, Sophie has had three surgeries since 2018 - including two laparoscopies and a D&C (dilatation and curettage) procedure.

In June 2023, Sophie got married and stopped taking the contraceptive pill shortly after as she wanted a baby.

After trying to get pregnant for months, Sophie thought something was wrong.

“It took us about eight months to actually get pregnant, so the whole time I was like ‘Oh my god, is it going to happen?’ I’d be constantly thinking that there was something wrong,” she explains.

“I came off the pill because I was constantly on it for the endometriosis, and the pain was so bad. So you're trying to have a baby, but you're in so much pain that it kind of hinders you in a way.”

After struggling with her fertility journey, Sophie thought it might be best to get another surgery.

“It got to the point where it was five or six months and nothing was happening. I went back up to my doctor in Dublin and he had me booked in for a surgery.

“I was due to get another laparoscopy in March and then I got pregnant. It’s a bit stressful because it’s always in the back of your mind” she says.

Speaking of her pregnancy, she points out: “It’s funny because when I was pregnant, the pain completely went away.”

On October 2, little Freddie was born.

“He was three weeks early. I think he’s a fairly good baby. But then we don’t have anything to compare it to, so it’s hard to tell, but he’s very good,” she laughs. “He doesn’t cry too much, we’re very lucky I think.”

At first, Sophie's husband, Conor, wasn't too keen on her choice of name for their newborn. But, he quickly changed his mind.

“I really liked the name Freddie, I thought it was really cute. Connor wasn’t too pushed on it, but I had a C-section, so I think when he saw me on the operating table, he was like, ‘You can call him whatever you want’,” laughs Sophie.

In the near future, she would love to have another baby.

“I’d love to have another baby, so I think we’re going to try and have another baby sooner rather than later. Ideally, I’d like to have another baby this year at some stage, but I have to wait a while now because of the C-section.”

Over the last decade, Sophie has suffered from intense symptoms. Eight weeks after giving birth, her endometriosis pain returned.

“My period came back and I was like 'Oh my God, I didn't realise how painful it was'. I don't know what I will do because the pill mentally doesn't agree with me. It makes me feel very anxious, very angry, nearly,” says the young mum.

Over the holidays, Sophie, Conor and Freddie got to spend time with their family.

“It was perfect. It was lovely and so nice just seeing everyone with him, and it just brings a little bit of happiness to everyone,” she recalls. “He’s still so small, he hasn't a clue what's going on. But it just brings more happiness, seeing everyone so happy with him. My mom and my dad absolutely love him.”