Saline SonoWTF- getting diagnostically fit for IVF duty
If you’re having a saline sonogram, you are likely in the beginning steps of being evaluated for IVF aka/FIT FOR DUTY. In my path to IVF I underwent my first saline sono after an abnormal HSG test that ultimately led to another saline sonogram and the diagnosis and removal of Polly the Polyp.
Being that I have had TWO I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the way that the test feels and works logistically. I did have a very drastic experience between the two instances that I will highlight in a bit, but by the second go round I was likely more used to having a lot of poking and prodding in the old ute (fun way to refer to your uterus) and more of a vet down there.
First off, I’ve heard that most Betty’s consider this test much less painful than the HSG. For me this was not the case at all, but I’ve been told it’s more painful if you have a tilted uterus and this lucky Betty apparently has quite the tilt. A tilted uterus is when ol’ utey tilts toward the BACK of your pelvis instead of the FRONT, it’s the left hand of uteri and I feel very proud to have one (my mother does as well, maybe it’s genetic? I’m too ignorant/lazy to know the answer to that). I wonder if those with tilted uteri are more likely to be President?
Anyway, it starts out much like the HSG except for this test I was able to be in my local fertility clinic instead of at the hospital with a giant X Ray machine hovering over top of me. First, my RE performed a basic transvaginal ultrasound to look at endometrial lining, uterus, ovaries and counted up some eggs (most recently, I had six on one side and 3 on the other, 9 seems like a great number to have). Then he inserted the speculum, swabbed the cervix, the soft plastic catheter soon followed- which is a little uncomfortable, but not to bad and very quick, re-introduces the pelvic ultrasound, and then shoots a very small amount of saline through the catheter to take images. From speculum to last drop of saline/image it really only about a 2-3 minute procedure.
I will say I was a little taken aback that after the catheter was placed and prior to the saline that they stick the ultrasound dildo looking thing BACK in there, the first time it looked like a giant baseball bat and was unsure how it wouldn’t move the catheter around and cause pain. The pain is very mild, admittedly I was a bit of a baby the first time around. The only part that actually hurt was when the saline was pumped in, but it was very brief and I felt fine following. My clinic always let’s us squeeze a Frozen-themed stress ball, and I LOVE that movie because I am basically a child and I look forward to that part like a 5 year old might be tricked into getting a shot if they’re given something shiny to look at before.
The second saline sono was a much different experience (besides the Elsa stress ball), I took two extra strength Tylenol before and had next to zero pain at all during the entire test. I am unsure if I was more tough, if it was that it was a different time of the month or my RE did some voodoo magic to make it less painful. This test is typically done around day 8-9 of your cycle following your period. Overall, it is really not that bad and following the test you may need to wear a pad as you may have some spotting and the saline drips a bit (yuck). Do NOT wear tight athletic/yoga pants like I did . . . BOTH times!
BB’s- anyone have a saline sono? Advice for those about to have their first?
