Can you please tell me your HSG experiences. Thanks.

Question

I just wanted to get some ideas of what to expect. I've made one wonderful friend on here and she's been heaven sent and has given me so much information and I wanted to see if any other women have been through this as well. I have to take the HSG test soon and I'm so scared!! 

I've barely started the process of seeing a fertility specialist and he's created a long list of tests and things I need to start doing in order to possibly diagnose my problem or become pregnant. I've tried taking Clomid and there was no luck so I'm hoping with the right tests they can help me find what is wrong. 

THank you ladies for any input, advice or experiences with this matter.

Hopeful_Mommy · Answer

Thank you ladies SO MUCH for your feedback. I see that it's mixed experiences and it's almost as if it is a 50% chance that it will be bad or good. Your suggestions are very much appreciated and I will definately remember to take some pain medication beforehand and a pad. It make me laugh the poster that said they give you pads from 1971 that are HUGE!! LOL. My husband will definately be there with me for the test because honestly I am such a nervous wreck any time I need to go to the doctor and especially for these tests! I did hear that after this test you tend to be fertile for awhile because it cleans you out and I"m hoping that is the case with me if they do not find any other problems with my tubes. A lot of my infertility I think is due to my periods always being so irregular. I could go months without getting a period and it used to be frustrating because I would get happy and take a pregnancy test only to be sad once it came back negative! 

Thanks again ladies and I will keep you all posted on how it turns out. We are just waiting for my cycle to start up again and then after that I will go in for the appointment. It's the next thing to do on my long list the doctor provided me of tests and things I had to do. :)

jen023 · Answer

I'm getting ready to go in for my HSG test as well - finally! It's been put off for so long! I'm thrilled that I'm finally getting it done, but scared as well! I think it will end up being around April 21 - when are you going in for yours? Let me know how it goes - and good luck!

babyalive · Answer

My HSG was quicker and less painful than I had anticipated. "Much ado about nothing" comes to mind. I had an unpleasant post HSG experience because of an allergic reaction to the dye. But, the procedure is tolerable and quickly over with.

shygirl03 · Answer

Good luck with your HSG.I got mine done as well last year ,i was upset later on becuase my Ob didint tell me to take a advil or anything for the pain ,I never that i need to have one .I dont take any thing because i dont know if its a little bit uncomfortable and pain a little bit ,but its like a 5 min and it will be gone ,it wont take so long ,my husband drove me home .and i laydown on the back sit ,i dont bring any pad or tampons at all  because i dont know whats the HSG for ..that was my experience .dont worry about the pain its normal ,its not bad at all .Just take a advil or pain reliever 45 prior the HSg ,and you will be fine . 
Thats good for us to clean up our system and make sure everything ok specially the tubes .
   keep us posted ...Ok

Helen72 · Answer

My HSG was unpleasant but quick and you will know results right away which is nice.  Also the tech who did my HSG told me that it's like house cleaning and you will be more fertile for a few months after the procedure.  Didn't work for me but certainly worked for many other ladies.

Diane1003 · Answer

Remember to bring a pad with you - you can't use tampons right after and if you forget they can give you one. I forgot and got one from the hospital people but it was a post delivery one or something from 1971 - it was the BIGGEST thing I've ever seen!  That was awful.  I was told to take 800mg of advil 45 min prior to the test. I did but it made no difference.  The pain was intense -but didn't last long.  The doctor preforming the procedure was a radiologist I'd never met and he kept saying that things are going great. I finally barked back at him that they were going great from HIS perspective...  It's all for a good cause and that's what I kept telling myself.

mommyof3andhopefully4 · Answer

I didn't have a great experience with my HSG.  I had no issues, no blocked tubes, but I had the rare occurance of the catheter bending and when he let the dye go through (that is when it slipped out) and the dye came back out.  Then I had to go through inserting it again...THREE TIMES.  I have a great RE and I don't hold it against him, but the cramping hurt, but the one good thing about it is it is FAST....he went fairly quickly...so just grit your teeth and get through it.  I suggest Advil....it is an anti-inflammatory and it helps with the cramping.

Sorry for being the bearer of not-so-good news.....but I just want you to be prepared.  You may be like the other Heather (my name is Heather too!) and not have ANY issues with it!  Let me know how it goes and I hope you don't hate me for being truthful....

Heather5 · Answer

I had also heard horror-stories about HSGs before having mine done, but to my surprise, it wasn't bad at all! Just a tiny bit of cramping, but not enough to bother me. My tubes were open, though, and I think it hurts more when they're blocked. Oh, and I drove home myself after. I second bringing a pad, though, because you will spot a bit after and leak some of the dye (which is also red), and the pads they tend to have there are the bulky, gigantic kind...if you know what I mean :-)

Good luck to you!

meggs523 · Answer

Your situation sounds very similiar to mine!  I was also on clomid with no luck.  I have now moved on to injectables and we're hoping we see results soon!  As for the HSG test, it's rather uncomfortable, but bearable.  Basically they put a catheter with dye into your uterus to see whether your fallopian tubes are blocked.  In my experience, the actually procedure wasn't too bad, but afterwords, especially the day after, I had tremedous cramping.  The doctor that performs the test should be able to tell you the results right then and there.  I had so much anxiety built up that I literally started crying on the table when the doctor told me that my right tube was blocked, thinking the worst.  I suggest taking aleve for the pain and bring a pad because you will spot after the test.  You will probably want to make sure someone can drive you home after the procedure as well.  Best of luck to you with the test!  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!