HSG Test

I have had two HSG tests. To be honest the first one was painful but only lasted for a quick second. After the second I asked if they had done it yet? So I think I was just a bundle of nerves for the first one and got my self worked up. It is not comfortable but it is quick. I felt fine afterward. Hope all goes well for you.

Don't worry Kate. I have had two done with different doctors and my first was a little uncomfortable because of the problems that I had at the time, but the second one I did not even feel, the process sounds worse than it really is and if you have a good doctor doing it the process is even better. You will be fine, expect discomfort but nothing else.

I asked the practitioner to use an oil based dye to evaluate my tubes to increase my chances of achieving a pregnancy during the following three months due to its thicker consistency. I had some discomfort only because the practitioner forgot which tube had been injected and the same tube was re-injected. The tube proved to be patent and so we terminated the procedure. Otherwise, I think the procedure would have been relatively pain-free. Good Luck. Hope your results are positive! G.

Hi Kate,

I had an HSG about 10 years ago now. I was put completely under but it sounds like some people have the option of being awake through the procedure. Do you have a choice?

The physical aspect of the procedure for me was that during the test, my stomach was inflated with gas (routine) so that they can see and get to everything through laparoscopy. Afterward, for a day or two the gas slowly exits the body and it is quite painful/uncomfortable during that time.

I have heard from doctors, as others mentioned, that often women become pregnant afterward since this procedure can flush out the tubes and make the environment conducive to conception. I wish this for you if that is what you are hoping to achieve!

If you get bad news, like the tubes are completely blocked, I imagine it will be very emotionally difficult so be prepared for that and you may want to ask ahead of time what your options are if that were to be the case.

Good luck. I hope all goes well for you.

Two of my coworkers and myself had HSG procedure and we all got pregnant right after the procedure. (Our tubes were open.) I had discomfort during the procedure because my uterus contracted while the dye flew through.

Hi Kate,
I had this done 20 years ago. It was really very easy .Just left me with the feeling of gas for a few hours. I went on to have surgery when I still didn't become pregnant. This was something I would not want to go through again . I found at a later check -up every woman (5)in the Dr. office I talked to had the exact some surergy for the exact
same conditions. It was like we were all on a assembly line.
Odd . So beware of what the Dr. says is your next options.
I went on to adopt.
Best of luck to you.

Kate

I work as an xray tech and have not only done these (with the assistance with of the MD) but have had this done on myself. I see you have plenty of information from the receiving end, but do you understand WHAT they are doing? Or the reasons behind it?

You are in an xray department with an xray tech and MD. The md does ALL the work, under sterile environment as the technologist comforts you and gives you information. I highly recommend taking either tylenol or motrin BEFORE your procedure because you will experience some discomfort.

While on the table, the MD will use a speculum, much like at the OB office and use a tiny plastic canula into your uterus. He/she will inject some very THICK iodine contrast (shows up bright on xrays) to visualize the tubes as well as the dumpage of contrast into the pelvis. That is where the cramping comes in. It is from the contrast. Try to take nice deep breaths and visualize someplace nicer.

The MD may have you roll side to side, to better visualize the tubes and if there seems to be a blockage, they may even have you roll onto your stomach. Dont be alarmed.

That should be the entire exam. You may have cramping throughout the day as your body absorbs and expells the contrast. You may have some bleeding. All normal.

And yes, many woman become pregnant AFTER this study because yes it is at times, theraputic.

On the receiving end of this, i think EVERYONE gave you great information. I experienced cramping but it was much like menstral cramps.

I wish you luck
If you have any questions, please ask.
R.

I had that done when I couldn't get pregnant & I was told to take Advil before the procedure in case I had any cramping or pain during and/or afterward (I took the Advil & did not have any pain). The speculum is probably the most uncomfortable part of it. After that, it was the weirdest feeling when they put the tube in & then when they shoot the dye through your fallopian tubes, it's very hard to actually explain, but it didn't hurt. Other than that & feeling some pressure down there, it really wasn't too bad at all. But the best thing you can do is relax while you're having it done. Try taking slow deep breaths to get your body to relax. I was being told to relax while I was getting it done & it worked while I was relaxed, but if I started to tense up, I could feel the pressure more & felt more uncomfortable, so I'd have to tell myself to relax again & take slow deep breaths.

My daughter had the test done and it was discovered that her tubes were blocked from scar tissue. That is the reason she had been unable to conceive. She and hubby started immediately looking into invitro, adoption, etc. Within a matter of a few weeks, she was pregnant. According to the doctors, something became "unplugged" during the test. I now have 2 wonderful grandsons, ages 10 and 7.

Yes, it was a miracle. I wish the same for you.

I had to have one done, it was not that bad. Of course the worst part of it is the speculum. But it was over before I knew it. I wish you all the best!

I had it done as well. The procedure itself wasn't bad - a little cold, but I did have terrible cramps afterward. I think they were so bad b/c no one warned me about it. I would have been prepared with tylenol or advil or something it would have been better. The more relaxed you can be the better things will go! Good luck!

HI there! I have read what others have responded, and they are all correct! I have had 2. First 6 yrs ago, during my fertility work up cuz I was having difficulty getting pregnant. Told my left tube was "inconclusive" and right was open. Pregnant right after that procedure, so it must have "flushed" the tube, and the dr says that is common. Had another done after pregnancy, when I was ready for baby #2 a couple years ago...Dr. mentioned sometimes with pregnancy, it could block my one "good" tube!

Test came back "inconclusive" on both sides, so my dr. mentioned I may have to do IVF for a successful conception! OMG! Well, needless to say, I got pregnant again (naturally) right after that, but miscarried. So, we know that these tests have to be done, but in my case..."inconclusive" means they aren't sure if the tubes are open and the dye is not pooling where it is obviously open...and I am proof that this test has it's faults! SO, remember me, when they tell you it looks like your tubes aren't open! :) I have 2 beautiful babies with "inconclusive" findings! Good luck! Baby dust to you!

L.

I actually had that test done twice. It is alot like a pap smear. Mostly uncomfortable, you could feel some stinging or a little crampy. They clamp you open and they basically shoot dye through your tubes and take a serious of pictures. What is hard is you have you too stay still. You will be fine, not as bad as you are thinking..

Hello Kate,

I had this test done about 10 years ago when my ex-husband and I were trying have a baby. I was nervous about the test too. So, you're not alone in feeling that way. My experience was a pretty good one - I'll never forget it, but it was pretty good. Two things I recommend would be - bring someone with you to give you support, hold your hand, etc... It's a bizarre, uncomfortable experience (I liken it to the female version of an "alien probe"), but it's over before you know it. Two - take a couple Advil or Tylenol TWO HOURS before the test. This helps with the cramping afterwards. Unfortunately, there is cramping and some bleeding afterwards. When I did my test, I was able to see the x-ray as they were doing it. So, I could see what the technician saw and within seconds I could tell what the results were going to be. The technician talked me through the whole process which helped me because I did this test without anyone in the room with me. (My ex-husband wasn't there when I did the test.) It doesn't feel good, but once you do it and get the results, everything works out. Good or bad, everything works out.

I wish you lots of luck with the test. I hope you get successful results. Good Luck!!!

D.

ps - I found out that I had VERY clear, open tubes, and I am now newly married (2 years in Dec.) with a beautiful 15 month old daughter. Good luck!!

I had it done 4 years ago. It was uncomfortable, but I think I was really nervous, which didn't help. It showed my tubes were blocked. After reading on the Internet that sometimes your tubes can spasm, I told the doctor I had a gut feeling that this was my situation. He agreed that this was a possibility and proceeded with my IUI. I got pregnant and now have two kids.

Good luck. Like someone below said, take deep breaths and try to visualize clear tubes in your head!

Hello Kate, I has a HSG done about 10 Yrs ago. I still remember being very apprehensive about it. They informed me it would be very painful. I did not have a lot of pain. I was more scared than anything. I remember some light cramping and mild discomfort. I also remember that I was so relieved and wondering what the big deal was about. I hope your experience is good. I also hope that you find out about your fertility issues. I know it can be very emotional. I now have 2 children. All the medical procedures are worth it. God Bless and good luck.

Is that the test where they shoot dye through the fallopian tubes to see if there is a blockage? If so, it worked for me. I was married almost 17 years and had never gotten pregnant, so I started fertility testing. When I had the test, it showed no blockage, but I was pregnant two weeks later. When I asked my ob-gyn about it, she said it happened all the time--the test got a minor blockage out of the way so the egg could get in a position to be fertilized. A couple of friends also knew people who had gotten pregnant shortly after that test. I dont recall any ill-effects from the test--pain, nausea or anything, but it has been 23 years, so my memory might not be accurate on that. Also, I have great pain tolerance (e.g. root canal with no anesthetic and walked on a broken leg for a couple of days) and am almost rarely nauseated (didn't even have any morning sickness), so I may not have had those symptoms even if they are common.

Dear Kate,
I had a hysterosalpingogram. I was quite young. I was 18 as a matter of fact. I started my period late...at 15, and it was downhill from there. I went months with no period and was in excruciating agony all the time. Unfortunately, my mother was completely unsympathetic as she never had a single cramp in her entire life and thought I was just being dramatic. She found out the hard way that I wasn't exaggerating and neither were my doctors. I was told I could never have children. And I was in the hospital all the time. However, on a happy note, literally miraculously, I had two children. 10 years apart. But I got them!
That said, I don't know what other tests or surgeries, etc you have been through, but for me, comparatively speaking, the HSG wasn't bad at all. I went into a room in the x-ray department of the hospital and put on a gown. They could tell I was a little nervous so they gave me something to relax me. I wasn't knocked out or anything, I was awake the entire time, but if you're not relaxed, it makes it more difficult for the dye to flow around where it's supposed to.
I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't uncomfortable. And I did feel some cramping. I was lucky and had a very lovely and gentle person performing the test and that made it a lot easier on me.
I went home afterwards and took it easy the rest of the day.
I'm sure you will be fine. The main thing is to try to relax. And if you are really nervous, be sure to go ahead and say so. It might make you feel better to know ahead of time how long it will take for your doctor to get the report, etc. It's just best for you not to be laying there with all that stuff going through your mind, so ask as much as you can before they get started. There is nothing you can do at that moment to change what the test does or does not show, so just try to get through the procedure as peacefully as possible and remain positive.

You didn't give a lot of other info, but I will certainly keep you in my thoughts.
Let us know how it goes.

I had it done and it wasn't too bad. I was a little uncomfortable during the procedure. It was pretty quick. I had a little cramping and very light spotting aferward. I had my results before I left the apointment. Good luck

I've had two of these done. The first was not just a smidge painful and you feel a little bit of a burn. I had no idea what to expect and didn't read up on it, so there were no nerves. The second one I had was quite painful (didn't last past the procedure) - and I wasn't nervous going in to it since the first went well. Not sure what the difference was in the test.

Two things I recommend:

1) Make sure they let you see the screen. Watching it really does get your mind off things.

2) Wear or bring a pad!!! The stuff they use comes out quite sticky. Not fun. LOL

Good luck and don't worry. See if you can take some ibuprofen to Tylenol beforehand and you should be fine.

I had the procedure done last October and my test was in Jan. It is relatively painless. I had to go back for a 2nd one in April since my right tube wasn't completely closed in Jan.

I had this test in January of this year. I did all kinds of reading on it too.. scared myself silly. I had read it was all kinds of painful.. ummm not true. I did take a percoset, I had another test earlier in the year they told me to take advil for and the advil was NOT enough so I was taking no chances... LOL It was not pleasant.. but when is having some random person futzing around down there pleasant. It certainly was not really any worse than your usual pap.
I had blockage (mild) but the dye knocked it loose, made me nauseaus until the blockage passed out of my system. Got pregnant next month, but had been put on clomid too...
Good luck!!!!!!

I had this test done before I conceived our first daughter (2003). It was more uncomfortable than anything. Ask questions and watch the screen, you can learn a lot about your own body during that session. They also refer to this process as "blowing your tubes" because quite a lot of women conceive after having it done.....I am one of them. I did research online about the procedure and scared the jeepers out of myself so I don't recommend doing that. I wish you luck!

My experience was that it was mildly uncomfortable while it was happening, but I had tremendous cramps and pain afterward and I remember thinking I wished someone had told me to bring some Advil (or whatever works for you) to take right afterwards. The ride home was almost unbearable, but certainly worth the information gained from it.

Blessings and baby dust!!! (I hope I'm assuming correctly...)