Mock transfer mocking me!

This past Friday I went to the RE for a (what I thought was) routine mock transfer and sonohysterography. This procedure is meant to identify any potential issues with the cervix, uterus and/or ovaries. They look for things like polyps, fibroids, scar tissue, etc. Basically they insert a catheter through the cervix and into the uterus and fill the uterus with saline so they can use an ultrasound to take pictures inside of the uterine cavity. It is also called a “mock transfer” because they use the same catheter that they will use during my transfer to transfer the embryos into my uterus, so it is important that the catheter can get to my uterus for that very reason.  Any issues that might be identified during this visit will need to be addressed prior to the start of the IVF cycle.

I went into my visit feeling confident that my uterus would be a beautiful place for a baby to make a home! However, not even ten seconds into the procedure, right as my doctor was “threading” the catheter into my cervix, I knew something was wrong. “Your cervix is very small”, I heard him say. To which I responded “Well I’m a small girl!” Apparently this wasn’t a laughing matter. As it turns out, as a result of my cervical laser surgery over a decade ago to treat precancerous cells, I have scar tissue on my cervix which has made the passage way very small. So small that the RE couldn’t even get the catheter into my cervix. They were able to inject the saline and finish the procedure, but it was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced!

The results indicated that my uterus was indeed “beautiful”, but that my ovaries were also small. To treat this I will have to take an extra dose of the fertility drug Menopur when I begin my injections. Treating the small cervix isn’t as easy. This coming Thursday I have to have cervical dilation surgery ($$$). According to my research and a very graphic YouTube video, the RE will put me under anesthesia and insert metal rods of varying sizes into my cervix until it has expanded to the appropriate size. How fun does that sound??? As much as I am not looking forward to this, it is a minor setback and I am just glad that we found this sooner rather than later. It also has me wondering if this is another reason we have been unsuccessful at conceiving. It is crazy just how much needs to go right to have a baby….