Coping with HyCoSy when I find smears almost unbearably painful

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Can anyone who has had a HyCoSy offer any advice?

When I have smears done the speculum being opened causes horrible pain (my muscles tensing up I think), but I manage to deal with it for the short amount of time it takes the nurse to do the swab.

I am due to have a HyCoSy this cycle and I am concerned that I won't be able to tolerate the speculum for long enough for the catheter to be inserted and the test done as it will take longer than a smear.

Apart from taking ibuprofen/paracetamol half an hour before can anyone offer any advice or tips on how I can keep relaxed?

(I know I'm capable of relaxing these muscles as otherwise sex would be impossible but I have to admit that does require the investment of foreplay which obviously is out of the question here! )

I had HyCoSy 2 weeks ago. The fear of pain was the worst bit of it for me. The staff who carried it out were fantastic and very kind; explained everything they were doing and offered to stop if I felt pain (I didn't). The part where they inserted the speculum wasn't that much longer than for a smear time wise and, once the catheter had been inserted, they closed the speculum and carefully removed it. They didn't put it back in to remove the catheter, just deflated the balloon then pulled the catheter out.

Thank you Rememberallball

It's good to hear that you found the HyCoSy to be better than expected and it's reassuring to know that the speculum doesn't have to be open for the whole procedure.

I think it's a bit of a case of mind over matter and I'll just need to focus on the fact that all of this is in the hope of having a baby at the end of all these procedures!

Op I've had to have two HyCoSys recently and I'm the same as you when it comes to smear tests and the speculum etc.

I can't relax at all and find the whole experience terribly painful.

I had to keep repeating in my head that if I tried to relax it would be over very quickly. I won't lie to you and say it was pleasant and totally pain free but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

My doctor was lovely and chatted to me to distract me which helped. He tried to get me to look at the image on the screen but it helped me to keep my eyes closed and try to think of other things.