Is HSG painful?

My gynae asked to go for HSG in 2 days time. Can the procedure be done without any painkillers? My gynae did not advise me that. Is the procedure with bearable pain or unbearable? I'm very nervous. Pls advise.

[Oddbod]

Hi please don't worry about it. I had one approx three years ago. I did not have any painkillers but I was given an antibiotic pesssary to prevent infection. I had not been told it was painful so was totally unprepared. Then lying there - half naked the nurse says to me "we can stop at any time if it is too painful". I think she scared me more than anything. I would say it was painful for about 2 mins. I took deep breaths and before I knew it the pain had gone.
I know it is hard not to worry but it is over and done with so quickly. Good luck and I hope all is fine.

[Saz1983]

Thank you for posting this as I'm expecting this to be the next step for me too and was a little nervous.  Is this the procedure to check if tubes are blocked?

[leighanne143]

i had one done in 2008.  it was not painful at all although some women do have some cramping.  I took a motrin about a half an hour before my appointment and it was fine.

take a small pain med like motrin or tylenol.  some women find it painful if they have a blocked tube.  I thought it was literally just like a pap smear kind of feeling.  not the greatest thing ever but not painful.  

good luck ladies.  feel free to ask any other questions or if you want more info on this.

[PrincessJam]

I would agree with everyone.  Basically the more blockage you have, the more pain you will have.  So, if your tubes aren't blocked at all, or have minimum blockage, there shouldn't be too much pain.  I didn't have any pain at all, and my tubes were free and clear.  

Take a painkiller like Tylenol about an hour before the procedure.  Did they advise you to take an antibiotic pill 1 hour before the procedure, if not, you may want to ask because I think that's routine procedure.  

Good luck, you will do great!!!

[northernsunshine]

Hell ladies,

I just had the hsg procedure done in Februrary and it's not that bad.  And yes it is the one to check for blocked tubes.  They start by putting the speculum they use for a pap in and that feels as it usually does when you go for a pap. Then I had a split second of slight burning sensation when he wiped the cervix to sterilize it and then when he clamped the cervix it was a bit of a pinch but nothing unbearable and then he inserted the catherter and pushed in the dye and that just gave me mild cramps like menstral cramps....the whole test goes by very fast, 5 to 10 min.  I was also very nervous as you all are and because of everything i had read on the internet.  I had taken two regular strength advil about 1 hour before the proceedure.  The best advice i can give you is to trust your doctor and to relax.  All i kept thinking about during the proceedure is me holding my baby in my arms and how labor will hurt a heck of a lot more then that little test...lol.  So don't worry ladies it's not that bad.  Oh and btw, both my tubes were open and my uterus was fine acording to my doctor.  Good luck ladies!

[gabbagale]

it is somewhat uncomfortable but bearable....I am a nurse and had it done nd was expecting the worse!  It is uncomfortable when they inject the dye, its a grin and bear it type of thing!  I was more uncomfortable with the cramping after!!!  But all in all not so bad...good luck!

[melissaphelps]

Hi my name is melissa and i just had a HSG on the 10th of may... I was told to take pain meds but i dont like to take meds. I went in for the test. And you lay on the table with your legs up and they use a clamp like thing and it goes on your cervix then they put the long catheter in and inject dye they used 20cc's on me. Well i didnt think it hurt at all. They only time it hurt me was when she put all of the dye in but that wasnt bad. She said the more the better and i said go for it. You get your results right away. My tubes were open and uterus is normal... Yeah doctor says it has been proven to increase the odds of getting pregnant within 3 months after the test.. So we will see. I wish you luck.

[Super_sally888]

HI,

I was advised to take a painkiller an hour before.

I found it quite painful.  Like really bad period cramps.  But bearable. Breathe through it.  I had quite strong cramping for 24 hours afterwards and took pain meds during that period.

I found out I have just one tube open.

[jbixora]

Thank you very much girls for your input...really appreciate that...

[Mari1974]

im geting one done sept. 8, im very nervous over the procedure, but after reading all the comments you girls have placed. i feel alittle better, still very nervous though.