Truthfully...probably.. I haven't had IUI but I have heard that they may have to use a teneculum to um...clamp/hold on to the cervix...take some tylenol before u go in.
Sorry I couldn't offer better news.
Yep...I have a very curved cervix, and honestly...brought tears to my eyes on each IUI's and water u/s! Def take some tylenol before you go and you will probably cramp and spot afterwards. My doc now has a "roadmap" to help guide him. Good luck! Oh, and he told me why it is so hard to get the catheter in...it hits the cervix and can't curve where needed...so they really have to work it around...that is what causes all the pain.
I think my cervix does a nice 90 degree turn at the end, and they have to use a tenaculum on me. Honestly, it wasn't as painful as my HSG. For some reason, that hurt so freaking bad I actually passed out, and I am very pain tolerant!
My IUIs have always been quite painful though, and I hurt really until the next morning. I always get my IUI done around lunchtime and then take the rest of the day off of work. My doc even allowed me some vicodin after the last IUI because it was a bloody, painful mess. :(
Sheri
Lovely. :) Well he does know about the curve so hopefully this time it won't be as bad. The first time he tried the catheter for the HSG, the curve was unknown so he basically stabbed me and I screamed. The 2nd part is probably where he got the clamp or whatever and that wasn't as painful but still hurt/was weird. Very 'clampy' like. That's the part where I screamed, "THAT SUCKED" so loud, guys in the radiology waiting room heard me and turned sheet white, my husband said.
I think I'm still in shock that I'm willing to go through all of this to have a baby. Two years ago I said I would neeeevvveerrrr do IVF/meds, etc. and here I am waiting for an ovarian cyst to clear to start Clomid with IUI.
I also have a cervix with a 90 deg curve and I have experienced a failed HSG because the nurse couldn't insert the catheter. Luckily the radiologist was able to insert the catheter during the second appointment.
I've also had 3 IUIs. The first time the RE lied and said she got the catheter in. The second time the same RE who supposedly inserted the catheter during the 1st procedure couldn't perform a second procedure and had to call in the Department Chair to insert the catheter, which he did in under 5 minutes without pain and drawing blood. After switching REs, the 3rd IUI was definitely the most painful as the new RE decided to poke through cervix to enter the uterus.
It seems to me that the amount of pain that is felt has to do with how skilled and experienced the physician is. Apparently a curved cervix also impacts IVF success rates. Has anyone, with a curved cervix, undergone an IVF or ZIFT?