Saturday 5 January 2013

My super vagina

Well, here it is a nice sunny Saturday and I have started withdrawal bleeding from my BCP suppression, so that makes today CD1.  I haven't called my clinic yet to report in, but this means I'll be in on Monday (CD3) for my baseline bloods and ultrasound, and hopefully starting stims on Monday night if all looks good!

I'm finding myself both excited and apprehensive about this upcoming cycle, which I guess is normal after a previous cancelled cycle as a poor responder.  I'm super excited that this drug protocol will work better than last time, and yet terrified that it won't and our options will narrow even further.  I'm trying not to focus on the negative, and I'm sticking to my healthy (but balanced) lifestyle which is making me feel good otherwise, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I also had an endometrial biopsy done on Thursday.  For those of you who haven't had one done, I beg of you, please don't Google it!!  You will be terrified reading all of the horror stories from women who for some reason claim that this is the worst pain they have ever felt in their entire lives and wished they had been put out for the procedure.  I'm not sure what their doctors are doing to them, and I know everyone's pain tolerances are different, but I had myself so freaked out last IVF cycle only to discover that there's really nothing to it at all.  

The theory behind the endo biopsy is that, if you irritate the uterine lining at some point in the cycle preceding an IVF cycle, the lining will grow back thicker and somehow stickier.  All the better to implant an embyro with, my dear!  You can read about the actual science here.  It starts off like a normal gyno exam, with the doctor inserting a speculum to get a look at your cervix.  Then they insert a small catheter through the cervix and up into the uterus, where they use a tiny bit of suction through the catheter to pull off little pieces of endometrium.  It's over in about 15 seconds and for me, the worst part of it is actually the catheter insertion.  The catheter is slightly larger than the one used for an IUI, so it's a bit more difficult to insert and both times I felt a quick, sharp stab as it was going in which caused me to kind of jerk involuntarily.  This time around I apparently jerked hard enough to clamp the speculum shut, which wasn't a problem at that point since the catheter was already in.  But my RE did say in a kind of surprised tone: "You're very strong!"

So of course I came home and promptly informed M that I had discovered my superpower.  Super vaginal strength!  All this time my sweet little vajayjay has been Clark Kent-ing us, but now it's taken off its glasses and we know the truth.  I can snap a speculum shut in a single clench...and I don't even do kegels!  Now, I just need to remind myself to use this power for good instead of evil...

Anyway, all this to say that I personally don't find endo biopsies all that bad.  I do find myself a little crampy afterward, but my RE had me take two Advil an hour before the procedure so even that wasn't too intense.  I'm also one of those horribly lucky people who's never really had menstrual cramps to start with (yes, I know, you all hate me now) so maybe it's just something about my physiology.  But I thought I would counter all of the very scary endo biopsy stories out there with something a little more positive.

Until Monday!

19 comments:

  1. So happy that the EMB wasn't too painful for you and you were able to write a hysterical post about it!

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  2. hahahaha that is awesome!!! Good luck on your upcoming cycle :)

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  3. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...Super Vagina!

    Ha! You crack me up. Hope that lining gets super sticky!

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  4. lol about your super vag ... that's awesome. :)

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  5. Excited and apprehensive...that's exactly how I'm feeling about this upcoming cycle. Now I get an extra month to feel that way. Yay for me.
    I actually want to do an endometrial biopsy for this next cycle. (Well, I guess want isn't really the right word) I plan on talking with my RE about it this week. Glad to hear it isn't too awful. My RE actually gives me valium for those types of uncomfortable procedures so it wont be so bad.
    Good luck on Monday!

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  6. Good luck on Monday! Sending positive thoughts.

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  7. Just found your blog and look forward to supporting you in your journey this year! I have never heard of an endo biopsy for extra uterine stickyness! Thanks for sharing - I may have to ask my docs! Best of luck for a very successful 2013! Please feel free to check out my blog anytime!

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  8. Okey-doke, have you seen the official trailer for the horror movie Teeth? (Didn't want to post a link, thought it might block me.) But dude. SERIOUSLY. That's awesome.

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  9. I had my EB this week. I had the same experience. the doc kept saying..you are amazing..r u sure you are ok? to be honest i felt almost nothing during it. but you are right the google reports i heard i was freaked out for. i do think everyone is different. my doc told me that some feel nothing and other women cant tolerate the procedure. for once i was lucky..and trust me i am not lucky at all. I am a few days behind you on my cycle..but it will be fun to cycle with someone. GL today at your baseline appt.

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  10. What a great visual ;) and had me giggling through your post (very much needed). I unfortunately am one of *those* girls with negative reactions to endo biopsies. I had one done 5 years ago which landed me in the ER. Go figure. Thinking about it now, I probably shouldn't say that in case someone comes here looking for reassurance. Edit: IT'S NOT THAT BAD AND HEY, ERs ARE FUN SOMETIMES!

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    1. I think it might also vary based on whether they are doing a true endo biopsy (to get a piece big enough to test) versus just giving it a poke with the catheter for IVF purposes. But the ER? Dude, that just sucks!

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  11. So funny! You should really use your superpowers in the bedroom, I think. :) And yeah, the biopsy is not that horrible, but I did find the 2 seconds of pain to be a REALLY BAD 2 SECONDS. Kind of like, "ow, Ow, OW, OWWWWW!??!!!" and then it was over. Same goes for the HSG. No biggie, at least if your tubes are clear. Excited to see how you respond to this round of stims! I should be on my Day 1 at this time next week, if all goes OK. Yay!

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    1. I can't decide if M would really like that or would really, really NOT.

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  12. Read this on my iphone while proctoring my final in Organic Chemistry. Took ALL OF MY WILLPOWER not to snort at full volume (and piss off 47 very uptight pre-med students...)

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