Hysterosalpingogram Dye Test?

Updated on July 02, 2010
A.B. asks from Bolingbrook, IL
14 answers

I will be getting a hysterosalpingogram done next week to see if my fallopian tube is completely blocked or not and I wanted to know if any of you mamas have had one done before. I just want to be prepared for it. What should I looked forward to happening? Any complications from it that I should know of? Where you in a lot of pain after it or was it not too bad? Were you up and back on your feet right after or did you have to lay around a lot after it? I have a wedding (that I'm in) the weekend after I get the test done and have a lot of things going on the days before it and want to make sure that I will be able to get around without much pain. Also for those of you that got it done and were trying to conceive ... did you conceive quickly after or did it change nothing? My husband and I already have one handsome little 16-month old boy (it took us 6 months to conceive) and are thinking of trying again after this test is done so I want to know if it helps our changes or does nothing at all for them. Any information about this would be so great. Thanks mamas!

Thanks for the responses so far! I did get vicodin prescribed to take before the operation so I think that should help with some of the pain (hopefully). I do know that this test is for blockage and not a fertility booster but I have heard people say that as soon as their fallopian tube was unblocked by this procedure that they got pregnant easier. I guess I should have gave a little background first about all that has happened leading up to this procedure. When I had my c-section with my son (after trying natural labor with no pain meds for 17+ hours), my doctor (which I love and trust very much) found a mass in my right tube. I have done tests and such to see what it is and it seems to be a benign fibroid and nothing really to worry about ... except for the fact that it could cause an eptopic pregnancy if it is fully blocking my fallopian tube. Which is the reason that we are doing the test in the first place. We are hoping this test flushes the mass out and there is nothing to worry about ... then we can get pregnant.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, I have had 3 of these tests in conjunction with fertility treatments and IVF. I am not - by any means- a person who is immune to pain and all 3 tests were fairly painless. I became slightly crampy when they pushed in the dye but otherwise I had no problems at all. I did not take any pain killers either. I drove myself home afterwards. I do know other women who have found it very painful though so I think it depends on each individual. Good luck!

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K.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, I had one. I think the worst part was when the dr. removed the balloon and the speculum. There was some mild cramping the rest of the day, but nothing major. You will be fine! Good luck.

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J.M.

answers from Dallas on

I had it done in May of 2008. Mild cramping - I went back to work the same day. There was another mama on here that had it done and needed a narcotic sedative - I thought that was odd. My test revealed open tubes and a heart shaped uterus. The test itself did nothing to help me get pregnant - just to see if I had blockage. The next month, I had a failed IUI, and an ectopic pregancy in Sept 08. I stopped all fertility meds and did acupuncture for 2 months. I got pregant Dec 08 and had a healthy baby boy last August.

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I had the test done. I took 600mg of Ibuprofen before I went to the test as I was told I would feel some cramping. I had my dad drive me because I wasn't sure if I would be able to drive home.

I didn't think it hurt much at all...I would go do it again today if I had to...there were a few uncomfortable moments but not really painful. Then again my nurse told me my doctor was the best at preforming the test and worked very slowly and carefully...he also told me each step before he did it.

I found the reason for my recurrent miscarriages through this test. I ended up need surgery, but the HSG was not a big deal.

I could have driven myself home no problem.

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

I had a friend who had this done. She said it was VERY painful...... And it did not help them conceive.....

I was supposed to have this done. The specialist recommended it. We passed because we were getting pregnant, just miscarrying. The test checks for blockage. Apparently there is no blockage if you are getting pregnant! The specialist was a complete jerk, didn't answer ANY of my husbands or my own questions, and came off that he was only doing the test for the money!

All in all, I"m glad we passed. After talking with a natural path doctor we are convinced that it is not good. He doesn't believe that we should be shooting anything up into our bodies that doesn't belong there. He is a firm believer in a healthy lifestyle and taking natural methods to become healthy and be able to conceive and carry pregnancies full term. Since seeing him we did have a son. (And another miscarriage.....) And are again pregnant with another! We passed on ALL the things the specialist recommended....

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I had this done a long time ago. They gave me motrin beforehand and I had some cramping but not too bad. But the nurse told me that they have had people pass out because it was just too much. Everyone is different in regards to pain levels. The test is intended to see if there is any blockage or any thing else that may prevent pregnancy, it isn't really meant as a fertility booster. I took it easy the rest of the afternoon and was perfectly fine the next day.

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T.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.,

It looks like you've gotten some great responses. I, too, had an HSG and was slightly freaked out about the pain factor. However, I took 4 advil about 1 hour prior to the procedure, and it wasn't a huge deal at all. It was like an annual exam, but with a little bit of cramping. I wore a panty liner throughout the day, and was a little more tired and crampy that night. But, it really wasn't nearly as big of a procedure as I had hyped myself up for.

I do recommend having a ride to & from the procedure. Less because you physically need it, and more because it is nice to have the emotional & moral support.

I haven't conceived since the procedure; although I've heard some women do.

Best of luck to you in this process!

T.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I had an HSG and it was relatively easy. When the catheter was inserted I felt a little light-headed but that was it. No bleeding, no pain after, and I drove myself home.

If you get yourself all worked up over it, then you'll probably be oversensitive to it. It really is nothing to worry about so don't psych yourself out over it.

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M.W.

answers from Boise on

I had no pain killers before and it hurt really bad!! And i almost passed out in the dressing room. Walking to my car was hard for me bc of pain and cramping and i had to lie down the rest of the day.
Try acupuncture for infertility. It doesnt hurt and works great!

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R.T.

answers from Chicago on

I had two of them done when I first started fertility treatments. As far as pain goes, I had the procedure done at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's and all they recommended was I take two Motrin prior to the procedure. That helped and the only discomfort I felt was when they removed the balloon and speculum. The x-rays were very cloudy which looked like a blockage and my husband and I decided rather than IUI, we opted for surgery to clear it out. When the doctor went in, it was not as bad as they originally thought and they were able to clear what little blockage was there. We did two rounds of IUI prior to getting pregnant. My son is now 18 months. Stay positive!

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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

I took four advil, which is what the nurse told me to do an hour before then after the prodcure I took another two. I was back at work the next day, I was a nanny then, and I was lifting 40lb child and a 20lb child. We went to the park and played, I ran around and did all my normal things. I had a little cramping, but nothing advil didn't help. It took us almost eight months after to conceive, but I had lots of other issues.

Good luck!

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S.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I had one done after trying to get pregnant for almost 18 months. I took 600 mg of ibuprofen an hour beforehand. The procedure was mildly uncomfortable. When they shoot the die in, it feels like a cramp. I felt crampy for an hour or so afterwards, then was fine. I had DH drive me, as I wasn't sure how I'd react to it. I could have driven afterwards, but it was nice to have him there.
We got pregnant the next month. I guess it can help "flush the tubes clear" if there are mild blockages.
I think it was well worth doing, as it told us there were no anatomical issues preventing the pregnancy.
Also, if you are at risk for etopics, which it sounds like you are, your dr can do an ultrasound at 5-6 weeks pregnant to check that it implanted in the right place.

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C.R.

answers from Chicago on

I had this done. I cried the whole time because it was very painful for me. I sat around for the rest of the day just because I wanted to. I could have done stuff, but just really didn't want to. The next day I was perfectly fine. It didn't help me get pregnant at all. We had to do IVF to get our little girl. Best of luck to you with everything!

N.C.

answers from Rockford on

I also had this test done...was similar to minor cramps (of course, a little more uncomfortable during procedure.) It is a test to help see if there is anything that needs to be fixed to help you conceive, not to actually get you pregnant. This is one step in a series of many! I had to be dilated each time I had artificial insemination (5x) and that was probably more uncomfortable. AND, we got prego all on our own, no drugs, no docs, nothing! After 4 yrs and $10K! Soooo, best of luck to you! Try to stay calm and not get too worried about it!

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