Nice - good job OP! Crossing my fingers for you

OP here! I had the IUI and it was, as everyone said, surprisingly easy. I did the box breathing suggested by a PP (thank you - will try that again), AND took the Ativan, AND brought my husband. Like I said, I'm a baby. But now that I have experienced it, next time I know it'll be less of a production. That is, unless this time worked. We shall see!

Thanks for all the sweet and helpful comments!

Breath.....it's the easiest thing if you let it be. Just relax. They speculum is not as bad as the it is during a pap. Like I dont think they unwind it that much.

I'm a big baby, so I would take the Ativan. If you can take a sick day, that's the easiest approach.

I've had two IUIs (one successful). The first I barely felt a thing. The second the doctor had trouble getting the catheter in so I do remember feeling some cramping, nothing major. But it worked!

One thing that's helped me relax during medical procedures is box breathing (breath in for 5 seconds, hold it in for 5 seconds, breath out for 5 seconds, don't breath for 5 seconds, repeat). Mostly it just stops me from thinking about the procedure because I'm focusing on breathing instead.

Good luck and baby dust to you!

So many people on this forum are so negative about IUI.
Regardless of the outcome, OP was asking about the procedure itself. If you cant handle the speculum part of a pap then you will likely experience the same anticipation, discomfort, anxiety to an IUI. They use a speculum, insert a tiny cathetar through your cervix and then its done. Once the speculum was in I literally didnt feel anything. If you can get through a gyne exam then you can get through this. I have had 8 of them, my 9th one on Tuesday. I hope all goes well for you, they never get easier or harder. They are what they are. Best of luck.

I had 3. They weren't a big deal. None worked though.

I've had 6 (over a several year period, and two successful resulting pregnancies - I'm a big IUI fan). 5 of them were serious non events - yes it's never FUN having a speculum in you but about Pap smear level, maybe a slight twinge or cramp but really honestly it was nothing. The anticipation was the worst part, by far. One of them was slightly more uncomfortable - the nurse was having a hard time getting the catheter in, so I felt a little more discomfort for a few seconds. But, seriously...not even a 6 on the pain scale. It was FINE. Just lay back and focus on deep breathing - in and out, in and out - and you will be shocked how much of a non-event it is. I don't mean this in a rude way but honestly having been through it the idea of taking anything in preparation is kind of laughable - you don't need it!

My RE did a mock IUI a few days ahead of my actual IUI. I told him before we started that I was anxious, mainly because speculums are extremely uncomfortable for me. Because of that, he purposely used one of the smallest they had available--what a difference, for the first time ever, I couldn't even feel it. On the day of my actual IUI, I asked him to use the small one again.

I fully agree with PP: it's very quick. You may have brief cramping because they are passing the through your cervix, but it will be brief and then you will be done.

Good luck.

Honestly it felt like nothing. Can’t help you with the relaxing and letting them get the speculum in, but the procedure itself felt literally like nothing. It took longer to confirm the sperm was my husbands (lots of reading labels, showing photo I’d, matching colored stickers to prove it was really for me) and then laying down. If you have been doing a normal IUI cycle, I assume you have had some of the transvaginal ultrasounds. So you can handle the “insertion” I did not feel the “catheter” tube which is really more link a string in diameter. It was done before I even knew they had started. During my first one, not knowing what to expect, after the doctor left and the nurse started to give me instructions I actually said “wait did it happen already?”

You know your body best but I would say that if you have done even one transvaginal ultrasound, you will be fine with the IUI.

Good luck and I hope this is a sticky baby for you.

I have my first IUI scheduled on Monday and am nervous. I've heard it's like a pap smear. I've had some anxiety in the past with speculums, and am nervous about the catheter and what that will feel like. Gynos in the past have had to tell me to relax so they can get the speculum in, which makes me clench up even more. Ugh.

My doctor prescribed Ativan to help me relax, but then I would be too loopy to go back to work that day (it's a 10am IUI appointment). I'm trying to decide if I can manage it without the Ativan. Yes, I know I'm a baby and that there are far more invasive procedures.

If you've had an IUI, what was it like?