IVF question regarding painful embryo transfer.... advice please?

Question

Can anyone suggest anything to avoid a painful embryo transfer following IVF? I have had several rmbryo transfers 'with 2 being very very very painful' my clinic do not seem to offer anything for this ... at least if i were aware i could ask them or try something myself. I feel this is a possible reason for negative tests... at the end of the day how do i know the embryo's are inside my womb.. the pain is that bad how do i know the staff are not just pretending that they have done the procedure just to get me out the room.... im sure it is as stressful for them as for me..

please any advice would be appreciated

Answer 1

sorry to hear of all your troubles.

but remember when your actually pregnant you will have to give birth.

and this is incredibly excrutiating!

you think these treatments are really painful but when your in labour and the midwives are refusing you pain relief for one reason or another, thats when the real pain begins!.

good luck and i hope you get your little bundle soon!!

Answer 2

My embryo transfer was really really painful too. It should have taken about 5 minutes and instead took 45 as the doc had to fight to get through my cervix and had to stop to scan me again. It was horrible, and I didn't have any pain relief. I was worried that maybe they'd damaged me during the procedure and that the embryos wouldn't grow, but one did, and I'm now 7 weeks pregnant!

Don't give up, maybe think about asking for pain relief before the procedure, even if it's just a couple of paracetamol. I had the end of a water infection when I had mine which I think didn't help, and I was given antibiotics to sort it out. Some clinics do give sedation for ET (mine doesn't) and I think if you've got a history of painful ET you've every right to ask for more help. Very best of luck! x x  

Answer 3

hi

i had a embryo transfer yesterday and didnt feel a thing are you sure they are doing it right?

Answer 4

I am so sorry that it was painful for you . . .

My IVF transfer was not painful at all.  When going through IVF, I was doing some yoga classes and learned to meditate.  You can find meditations on I-Tunes - just search for guided meditations.  I think being relaxed helped - my muscles were relaxed, I was relaxed and I think this helped a lot with placement.  It wasn't fun  . . . the full bladder was uncomfortable and there was a bit of a pinch and slight cramping afterwards . . . but not too bad.  Since I was not under any anesthesia for this process, DH got to be in the room holding my hand, too.

When doing it, they were using something like an ultrasound machine so I could kind of see them going in to place the embryos . . . no idea what I was looking at on the screen . . . but I guess it helped to see!

Success rates are very important to clinics . . . so I cannot imagine that they are faking it - but you should definitely talk to your doctor about your discomfort.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Wow! I'm sorry you had to go through that! My embryo transfers (ET) have not been painful, maybe a little uncomfortable because of a full bladder, but not that bad. Egg retrievals are a different story! My clinic puts me out for those (Some clinics do not!).

I would explain to your RE how painful transfer is for you. I ask for a valium for my ET just to relax me and take the edge off. I do tend to tense up some and maybe you are getting tense and it's causing you to contract your muscles causing pain. Ask you RE for a valium. Also, learn some deep breathing exercises and meditations before ET. Anji.com has some great downloads and is directed to women going through fertility treatments. They are great for stress too! As for the full bladder, I suggest you don't fill up too much before ET. Fill up there and let them wait for you. I about exploded my first ET! They can monitor you with the ultrasound and will know when you are full.

When you have your ET do they do it with a guided ultrasound where you can see your uterus? If they do, you can watch and will be able to see the embryos transferred. They are very tiny! You can have your RE point them out to you for a little peace of mind.

I highly doubt that the staff is pretending. Have you researched this clinic and looked at their success rates? Are they a member of sart.org? You just have to go with your gut and trust. If you don't, find another clinic. Plus, clinics need success to stay in business. No embryos transferred=no success=no business!

I hope you find some peace and are blessed with full arms soon!