Infertility Support Group

You fill your bladder youself. I had to bring a liter bottle of water with me in the car to drink. You do get quite uncomfortable while you are waiting but you should be able to manage. The cather is no big deal. It pinches a little bit but not much besides that. My doctor drains your bladder afterwards because they don't want you up and moving right after ET. You will do fine. GL!

Aww man...I was hoping there would be no catheter but I am sure I won't mind if it will remove the discomfort of a full bladder!

Is it stupid that I am most worried about him touching that certain part? The man has seen everything and then some but I just don't want that messed with. Maybe the nurse will do it? I wouldn't mind that as much.


The things we do for a family! I've lost almost all modesty...in front of strangers. I am still fairly modest around my DH :)

I have not heard of any other dr's emptying your bladder for you.... I drank about 2 L of water and had to get up to go to the bathroom about 15 mins after the procedure--it was too much! But one L should be fine, you probably won't even need to go until you get home. Do a test beforehand--try drinking that much and seeing how long you can hold it. You will probably be fine. Most likely they will only be putting the catheter through your cervix so don't worry!

you drink water, whatever they tell you to drink , drink about half so you won't be so uncomfortable. I've never had a doctor cath me afterwards to drain my bladder, you wait 15 minutes and then you are on your way and can go to the bathroom. good luck

Just make sure you do drink enough because otherwise they may make you wait an hour till your bladder fills more before they will do the transfer!

My ET was done at like 10 am. I went to the bathroom at like 7am and then just drank a ton of water on the way. My bladder was too full when I got there and they let me empty some. I got to the bathroom about 10 mins. after the ET.

I've always had to drink a lot of water. My bladder tends to fill quick and is very painful for me when full so I start drinking a lot at least and hour before and I bring a big bottle in the hospital with me. That way I can keep drinking it and still pee if I need to because I know there is a lot more right behind it.

You know your body though and how it responds to liquids. If you don't think you can fill up quick then hold it as much as you can. It can cause them problems going in if not full enough or they could make you drink more and wait.

I have to wait at least 20 mins before going again after the transfer though. It can get uncomfortable but it is worth it if it works! :-) Good luck!

I filled my bladder so much that I half emptied my bladder three times in the 30 minutes before the ET. I even ran out of the operating room to go pee. It was painful keeping a full bladder for so long. I wouldn't start filling your bladder until 20 minutes before.

My RE used a cath on me and it was so painful, both going in and out. It was awful - but I didn't feel him touching "that part" if that helps. Good luck!

I was told to drink 32 oz. of water one hour before the transfer. I had a difficult time holding it in and they told me I could go to the bathroom 5 min. after the transfer. I know that some clinics have you lay and rest up to an hour, but mine said I could go right home 10 min after the transfer (and I still ended up pregnant, even though I didn't lay there long after ET...had me worried at first because everyone else seemed to lay there for so long, but it all worked out!)
My RE made me do a mock embryo transfer trial before the real thing (before I even started stims) so that I would know what the experience was going to be like and so that he could plan ahead if he needed a special catheter (he did-my cervix ended up being tilted posteriorly). This made it way less stressful as I knew exactly what the procedure was going to feel like. Every clinic does it differently though, so if you are concerned, you could always ask if they do mock transfers. GOOD LUCK!

You Drink beofre you go and on your way....just don't over fill - it's hard to hold it for 45 min after....I think I only made it 10 the first time...