Hi Starbright
I had an absolute horific experience with my last FET transfer, so bad that I was screaming & crying out in agony. It wasn't my usual FS who was doing the transfer & the FS I had was horrible, which I think just added to the terrible time.
Needless to say it resulted in a BFN so I had an appt with my usual doctor a couple of weeks ago to discuss the trouble we had with the transfer. This was transfer #5 for me & I had never had any trouble in the past. I had a C/S with my daughter & asked if this could be why I had so much pain. My doctor advised this was unlikely & said that the fullness of your bladder has a lot to do with the position your uterus sits in when they do the transfer, too much or too little & it can be a cause for problem. Also, I have a retroverted uterus which means that it tilts backwards. I know that when I had the transfer done, I felt like I was going to absolutely burst. With my previous transfers, they actually sent me to the toilet to empty some but they didn't do that this time around. I'm due to go back for a fresh IVF cycle some time next month so hope I do not have the same experience again.
Have you spoke to your FS, can they do an internal ultrasound to make sure everything looks OK?? I know what you've gone through & I wouldn't wish it upon any one, I hope you have a better experience next time around.
After 3 simple transfers, my last transfer (#4) was a nightmare. I knew I was in trouble when he said "I'm just going to use this instrument to hold your cervix". It was just like my HSG and I really hope I never have another like that again. I hadn't been aware of any sort of connection between traumatic transfers and BFN's at the time, so I'll be asking him about that before we do the next one - thanks.
I hope your trial transfer goes well so you can avoid the pain and the GA.
every one of my transfers/IUI's and internals has been painful - my cervix had, until recently, been "difficult" as everyone labelled it. it was twisted off to one side and was higher than normal even at ovulation. it was horrible - i'd end up bleeding from cervical bruising at almost every transfer, and each transfer took at least three of us working together (my with hands under my butt to change angle, hubby with his hand on my stomach pressing down (again for angle - when it was FET or fresh, this was replaced with the u/s pressing down), nurse or FS (depending on whether it was iui or ivf) with the speculum (usually upside down) and swabs to flick the cervix into view. was awful!
our 7th IUI (7 IUI's, 3 embryo transfers) resulted in BFP and towards the end of that pg, and during labour, internals were horrific. my ob ended up knowing how to find my cervix - by pushing DD's head down onto it! the registrar couldn't find it at all! he ended up having to get middie to do the internals while i was being induced after i told him to get his flippin hands away from me cos he was causing me so much pain trying to find it.
on the upside, labour and birth appear to have corrected the positioning of my cervix somewhat - my pap at 8 weeks was simple (omg, i was soooooo geared up for pain and bleeding again!), and i can now find my own cervix which i've never been able to do before.
hopefully your next transfer (or the practice one to start with) is much less painful. keep those things in mind that i had done - hands under butt to lift it more inline with where it needs to be, pressure downwards etc. small things, but they help a bit...
Thanks everyone for your replies.
Briggsy's Girl- I will be taking those tips tomorrow. Was the transfer with you BFP difficult as well?
Juniper- I'm sorry you had an awful experience. I don't think the doc will come out and say it is a contribution, but if your uterus is contracting at the time of transfer, it can't be good.
littlemissmoo- You poor thing. I feel the pain. I also had a retroverted uterus and my bladder was full too. I asked about ultrasound, but the FS said it doesn't give them a clear picture of the cervix.
BW- I hope I don't have that, but thanks for the info. FX things will go smoothly with my practise tomorrow.
i had four bfp's from transfers but due to hormonal issues lost three of them. the one resulting in DD wasnt quite as bad as the others as the nurse remembered to use a longer speculum and we all automatically applied pressure in the right places as it was transfer number 10 lol
Thanks Briggsy's Girl. Congratulations for pushing yourself through each cycle and getting your bundle of joy.
Well, Transfer went well this morning. FS had a little trouble at first, but got the catheter in pretty quickly.
Thanks to all your advice, I did a few things differently too. Firstly, I made sure (TMI- hehe) my bladder and bowels were empty. I didn't have anything to eat or drink prior to the procedure. Also, I used my hands to support my lower back during the procedure. This may of added extra tilt as well.
Anyway, I came out feeling a lot better too. No pain or cramping like last time. FX when I have the real transfer next cycle, things will go just as smoothly.
Glad you had your last TF smoothly Starbright...sorry this is a bit late but just wondering if you have a retroverted uterus because that could make transfer a bit harder.
I have a retroverted U and the 1st time FS has to change to a different gear (I just dare not to look what it is but it seems quite long ) to get in...but after that it seems he got a hange of it and we didn't have any problem...When I changed to another FS, he uses u/s guided transfer and interestingly he asked me to have full bladder and the 3 transfer I had with him was all pain free and really quick. Rumour has it the easier the transfer, the better chance of conceiving, but I don't know how much truth to it though.
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) to get in...but after that it seems he got a hange of it and we didn't have any problem...When I changed to another FS, he uses u/s guided transfer and interestingly he asked me to have full bladder and the 3 transfer I had with him was all pain free and really quick. Rumour has it the easier the transfer, the better chance of conceiving, but I don't know how much truth to it though.
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