Inconceivable: Saline ultrasounds are the worst

To prepare for my upcoming IVF cycle, I had to have a saline ultrasound. If you haven't had one of these, I am jealous because I've had three and they made my uterus feel like it was going to explode!

Saline ultrasounds involve a catheter being inserted through your cervix and then saline being shot into your uterus. Then the doctor removes the catheter and uses an ultrasound wand to see what an embryo would see when trying to implant. This procedure is used to check for any polyps, tissue or anything in the uterus.

I had one last year, which revealed some tissue still there from my last miscarriage. I had to have the tissue surgically removed via an outpatient procedure.

​All IVF patients must have a saline ultrasound within six months of their expected embryo transfer. So I went in to have another one. Since we were also doing a "mock transfer" to prepare for IVF, I had to arrive with a full bladder. (A mock transfer is basically just a catheter going into your cervix to determine the route needed to place the embryos back into your uterus after fertilization. Apparently sometimes the routes can be winding and you don't want to find that out during the actual transfer.)

Following the mock transfer, the first attempt at the saline ultrasound wasn't clear enough. Apparently my bladder being full was a problem! The pain for me associated with the ultrasound was so bad I felt like I was in labor. After using the restroom, I had to go back and they did the saline ultrasound again! I was in so much pain and it had barely subsided when the saline went back into my uterus.

I toughed it out but was living on Motrin that afternoon!

I got the all clear, meaning I could order my injectable medicines and prepare for IVF. Our financial balance was also due on this day. So we paid up and finally accepted that this was actually happening. Time to cross my fingers, eyes, toes and anything else and pray that this works.

Kathy is a mom of one and Out & About editor for WRAL.com. She writes for Go Ask Mom about her experience with secondary infertility.