How does an HSG work?

Sorry to ask another question so soon, but how does an HSG work?

I posted in one of the forums that I didn't know what it was.  I was told that it's when you basically get a dye inserted into you through your cervix and xrayed.

How does this help?  Should I ask my doctor to do it to me?  I'm currently taking Clomid 2nd cycle, not sure if it's helped yet.  Also, does it cost a lot of money to have it done?

Thanks.

[Harley-girl]

It lets the doctor know if your tubes are open or blocked. If tubes are open the dye has a tendency to make them even larger for 2-3 months and the thinking is that the egg and sperm have an even better chance of meeting up.
If tubes are blocked by scar tissue etc this does not open them.
Mine costs about $1300.00 and was done at the hospital by the radiology dept.

[Berko]

i've had an hsg done to check out my uterus and fallopian tubes after 2 m/cs (the dr. wanted to make sure nothing is in there causing the m/cs). i wrote a whole description of it a few weeks back i think - to someone who was going for one and wanted to know what it was like. i'll try to find it and post again. i think though that dr.s also do it if not getting pregnant and want to make sure everything is clear and everything can get through way it's supposed to.
how long have you been ttc? i think it costs approximately $300 (give or take a little bit). i know this cuz i went in without authorizing with my insurance co. b/c i didn't realize had to let them know about it first before going in to have it done. my dr. gave me a prescription of it and i went to have it done. noone asked me anything about whether my insurance covers or not and they took my info so i assumed they covered it. so i got a claim denial from them showing the cost of it about $300 - i called them to appeal b/c really didn't realize...we'll see what happens. in any case call your ins. and see if they cover it and if they do if you have to have it authorized. i'll try to find that old post and post it up again  (that describes hsg in detail).

[Berko]

yours cost $1300?!!?

[Harley-girl]

Wow your was cheap compared to mine. I heard they run $800 on up. I guess it depends on where it is performed and who does it. My ins covered mine and I was still left owing a couple hundred.

[Harley-girl]

Damn expensive hospital. :)  Thank God for ins...

[Berko]

the truth is i didn't get a bill from the hospital - just from the insurance co. and it was about $300 - i think. now i'm gonna look for it to double check.

[JDLAWSON]

I believe most insurance do not cover this--for it is consider a part of fertility treatments.  I know mine was not covered.  I beleive for my cost of $550.  I had mine done back in 2004, I went in in Feb.  got pg in March--it does have a high chance of success in helping women become pg.  They insert a balloon on an end of a wand, air it up and shut dye into.  It then travels to the fallopian tubes--they watch and make sure the die travels up.  The right side went really well and then the radiologist said it fell out and they had to do it again---I am thinking it did not work for there was a blockage on the left side--second insertion it went through both sides.  

If you have this doen--relax-just mild cramping--if you don't get cramps with your period like me--then it is a little bit of a shock.--
I had this procedure done--and never had to go on clomid--helped for me.  Hope it works for you.

[sweetmoon11]

hi i just read ur message i have had my HSG 1 week ago i m trying 2 concieve (conceive) for last 16 months now 17 months with out any sucess . i live in UK so the test does'nt coast me a single penny.it was really very uncomfortable but no painfulat all atleast 4 me some woman may have even blood spotting just few spot but i did'nt had any.its like yr smear test the difference is they put in dye .doc explained me each n every step n even showed my internal exray on litt tele:).i hope this info ll help u ...

[Berko]

the insurance co. sent me paper that says $68 for x-ray, female genital tract and $205 for catheter for hysterography. whoa - i really hope it didn't cost more - i haven't heard anything from the hospital so i'm assuming this was it - and i'm appealing the insurance to pay for this amount.

[neparker]

Wow, thanks for the information.  If it does work, and sounds like it has, then good.

However, I don't think we'll be taking that route.  To expensive.  We want more children and will, someday.  We already have two children which were very easy to conceive, it's this third one we are having problems with.

I guess we'll continue with the Clomid and keep crossing our fingers every month.

I guess calling our insurance won't hurt, but I really doubt they'd cover it since they don't cover the Clomid.

Thanks again ... best wishes to all us TTCers

P.S.  I want to let everyone know how much I've appreciated this site.  It's nice to be able to talk about these things.

[Berko]

i wrote the following to someone else to describe the hsg (my experience with it):

also, i'll tell you a little bit about my experience with the hsg to prepare you and hopefully make you a little less nervous. to be honest it was definitely uncomfortable and there was definite cramping, but it wasn't huge bouts of pain and after lying down for 10 minutes after test cramping really subsided. now i don't normally cramp during period so it could be that's why i didn't have that much cramping with this test (i don't know), but there was some cramping and more severe than i would get if i ever did cramp. what happens is they put a catheter to open your cervix and then put the dye in through a thin tube (or something like that) - the dr. explained that b/c the dye is so thick and your fallopian tubes are so thin it can be uncomfortable and feel crampy. i knew when the dye was going through the tubes b/c i felt it and that really was the worst part, but once it went through it really wasn't so bad. after the test was done i had some bleeding. i lay on the table for an extra ten minutes to let the cramps subside. the rest of the day i had discharges (extra of the dye - which is clear, but on x-ray becomes black) and some bleeding, but not heavy. i really felt okay afterwards and even went back to work. Thank G-d they saw that everything looked clear and fine. Really don't worry too much - i looked at it like this either i could get it done and stress out tons about it, but still have to get it done b/c it's a means to an end or i don't have to stress out about it and get it done b/c again it's a means to an end and it's worth the discomfort to reach that end (G-d Willing)

[mslkpage]

Mine was covered by ins., but it was ordered after my ectopic pregnancy. The hsg report will also note the appearance of the uterine cavity and the endometrium (or, it was noted in my report), so that can be helpful information, as well.

[greenpixie]

Many states have laws that say if an insurance company covers prenatal care then they also have to cover infertility treatment, which is what the HSG procedure should fall under.  Check out this site and see if your state is listed:

http://www.asrm.org/Patients/insur.html

[Berko]

regarding the clomid: i used it for 3 cycles and it didn't work for me - my dr. said that usually if clomid gonna work for someone gonna work within first 3 times so then he started me on letrazole - that ended up working (with iui) so if clomid doesn't work for you (but hopefully it will) then ask about this. (also called femara)

[Harley-girl]

Worked for me as well. Got pregnant the following month.

[ivfpatient514]

I just got a explaination of benefits int he mail today from my insurance for invoices from Care Fertility in Glendale, CA  - Dr. Quinterio's office...OMG!  He billed my insurance company over $17k, yes, $17k for an HSG!  I can't believe what I'm seeing on the itemized bill!  He billed for stuff that didn't even take place!  What a crook!