HSG/Hysterosalpingogram

[Mbrink]

Good Evening, ladies!

I've been TTC #1 for nearly two years now, and I'm now going through infertility testing. I am supposed to be getting the HSG procedure done in three weeks, and have read many things on it.

From it leading to BFP's, from it being painful to it being painless, etc.

I was just wanting to hear other people's experiences with it and if you have any suggestions.

Thank you!

 

[sugarpi24]

I'm getting one done here soon too...I heard that its like a burning sensation but not to terrible and that when they take the catheiter out all the dye comes rushing out...like you peed yourself...a friend of mine had one done and she told me this...

 

[Princess Lou]

I had mine done last April. I have never experienced anything as painful as that was. However, mine went wrong and there was blood everywhere. I had to have my husband help me get cleaned up properly and dress me. The doctor and the nurses did clean me up a bit but I wanted to be out. I was in quite a lot pf pain for a few days after also.

However, what happened to me was very rare. Most women I had spoken to beforehand had reported that they took pain relief an hour before the procedure and although they felt discomfort, there wasn't much pain. A few did experience pain but only mild pain. No one I have spoken to before or after experienced what I did. Stumping your toe is apparently supposed to hurt more.

Plus side, everything came back clear for me.

Good luck.

 

[xkatiex]

my dr told me to take some ibuprofen and hourish before going in. the procedure was quick and it felt like a bad cramp for maybe 6 seconds, kinda crampy the rest of the day, but nothing serious. no rushing liquid of any kind, no blood. maybe the dr who did mine was really good.. lol idk, but it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be!

 

[Hope41more]

My main thing to stress here is don't do what i did- basically i had it in my head that the procedure would unblock a mucus plug and i would go home and get my BFP that month (even Fnurse said this could be the case so had hopes up) They actually found both my tubes to be blocked and i came out devastated, in total shock and was completly messed up. I'm not saying this is going to happen to you but please don't just think of the positives and plan BD for that month like i did. I just want you to be aware that this procedure can help some couples but devastate others and i don't want anyone to feel as bad as i did i wish i'd been more prepared.
The procedure was really painful for me but i have heard it's worse if your tubes are blocked. Don't focus on what other peoples experiences on the pain side is it's different for everyone just like child birth some horror stories while for other people it's a breeze. Plus the more you think about it the more anxious you might get. You will want to go through with the procedure no matter what so knowledege is not neccessarily always a good thing. I would take a pain killer half hour before (i forgot- was too anxious). I hope everything goes well for you and you get your BFP very soon and hopefully without any assistance. x

 

[EvieBee]

I have my HSG in a couple of weeks and have been given a course of Anti-Biotics to start taking that morning (and the four mornings after). Did anyone else have to do that? I've done a bit of online research but never seen it mentioned by anyone else!

 

[sugarpi24]

I have my HSG in a couple of weeks and have been given a course of Anti-Biotics to start taking that morning (and the four mornings after). Did anyone else have to do that? I've done a bit of online research but never seen it mentioned by anyone else!

Yes my doctor is going to do that too

 

[noelcallum]

I also had antibiotics before the HSG.

I am not going to lie - it hurt me to the point that i was making "ow" noises out loud but it was over very quickly and there was no pain afterwards at all. They couldn't get the dye through my right tube and the Dr thought it was because I was having spasms because of nerves/pain but he cannot say for sure that the tube isn't blocked.

I told the doctor today that if this cycle isn't then I want a voluntary 2nd HSG so make sure the tube is or isn't blocked- so it can't be that bad!! Someone told me it hurts less if you wiggle your toes as you have something else to focus on. I forgot to do it last time but will definitely this next time

 

[xkatiex]

I have my HSG in a couple of weeks and have been given a course of Anti-Biotics to start taking that morning (and the four mornings after). Did anyone else have to do that? I've done a bit of online research but never seen it mentioned by anyone else!

yes i had to, i think they were antibiotics?

 

[Mbrink]

Thank you so much ladies! I am going on Clomid the cycle after my HSG, as the doctor things that will help my high FSH levels (although I think this is somewhat counter productive since I've read Clomid increases FSH, but I'll try anything at this point!).

I too was told that I would be given an antibiotic. I think I might have to try and take an Ativan beforehand, as I am a very anxious person to begin with!

 

[alleysm]

I just had hsg last week. The cervical clamp hurt like hell. The contrast hurt like hell. I could not return to work that day. I cramped terribly. My cervix was sore for several days and i also spotted for a few days.

 

[marymoomin]

I think it depends how open your tubes are. Mine were open and it didnt hurt a bit and was over in 2 seconds....
Good luck!

 

[Sizzles]

I had my hsg nearly 3 weeks ago. It wasn't a pleasant experience, but it certainly wasn't as bad as I'd thought. The most painful bit for me was the cervical clamp, but it only lasted a matter of seconds rather than minutes. The catheter going in was uncomfortable but not unbearable, or that could've been the dye; I'm only aware of 2 parts of the procedure being uncomfortable. I didn't need to exclaim out loud; I think at one point I winced, but it's all over very quickly. Afterwards I had no gush of dye; the nurse gave me a pad and I asked (embarrassed) if I needed to kind of hold it under me as I went to the loo to clean up and dress, and she said no. I had a tiny bit of cramping for the rest of the day, but my menstrual cramps are so bad they were a bit of a breeze really!
I should also add that my tubes were officially clear and as someone else said, blocked tubes are notoriously more painful than clear tubes.
Good luck!

 

[sugarpi24]

Oh I'm so nervous...what happens if they are both blocked?!

 

[Lily7]

Hi I had my hsg on Friday and I don't want to scare you but for ME it was the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life, the doc said it was because both my tubes were blocked and they pushed the dye really fast and hard to try unblock them, they got 1 unblocked but the other is still blocked, they upped the pressure to try to unblock it but no such luck. They said it is a breeze for ladies with open tubes though so I hope yours are open, I am still uncomfortable and still spotting. All the parts leading up to the dye going in, the cleaning, catheter etc are fine.

 

[PositiveHope]

Hey girls,

I had my HSG test done this month. I also read a lot about it and was scared to do it. I expected it to take longer than it did and I was so scared of the pain. I took 2 painkillers 1 hour or so before the appointment. The Dr. and nurses were super nice! And the painful part of the procedure was over in 2 minutes. It was a little uncomfortable but especially since I expected the pain to get worse! But then it was over all of a sudden. I was pleasantly surprised! They immediately told me that my tubes were open! That was the biggest relieve! Now I am just hoping that this increased my chances of getting pregnant the next few month!

 

[dodgercpkl]

I had to take antibiotics for the 3 days surrounding the HSG. The procedure was painful but not unbearable for me, and the painful part was over with fairly quickly. I already knew that my tubes probably weren't going to be a problem since I'd been pregnant twice in the last 10 months before the HSG, but I did find out that I had a septum on my uterus. Turns out it was taking up most of my uterus and was the most likely cause of both my miscarriages. I just had surgery to remove it a week ago and am waiting out a cycle while I heal. I'm glad I found out. It's an answer to the why's of my miscarriages and now I have a much higher chance to carry to term on my next pregnancy!

I hope yours goes well!