HSG Test - OMG!!! I Am Freaki** Out!!

I had an HSG before being placed on clomid. It is quick and not painful, just mild discomfort like cramps. I got results after a week.

If you've had an annual exam recently, then the next step may very well be the HSG. Our doctor recommended I get the HSG after trying for several months (I think I was 31) and my husband got the semen analysis around the same time.

What they're doing is putting dye in your tubes and watching the dye on the x-ray machine to see if the tubes are blocked. It can be uncomfortable, but, after going to multiple doctors, I noticed that one doctor's procedures were relatively painful, and another doctor's were relatively painless. And some people's uterus will cramp after the dye reaches their tubes, and some people's won't. You can prepare by taking Aleve or something like that ahead of time. One fertility doctor would prescribe valium whenever I was anxious about a procedure. A friend said that her doctor let her be somewhat sedated for the HSG. My guess is that most doctors won't find it necessary. It's over in a second and not everyone has cramping.

I agree with the person who said to go straight to a specialist. My obgyn also spent too much time with me and once you're 30 and TTC, you need all the time you can get. She said my HSG was normal. I took those same x-rays to the specialist and he found stuff all over the place. He couldn't believe they got the dye to go through my tubes. I asked why she wouldn't have found everything (neither did the radiologist), and he said that when fertility is all you do, you can see things that others can't. My obgyn is excellent at saving babies in an emergency, according to the nurses at the hospital. But, as I realized, fertility is not her specialty, although she seemed very interested in it.

The Weschler book is good if you're TTC. I got one pretty cheap at Half Price Books. Good luck!

If you have any other questions, you're welcome to send me a message. We did basically everything before we adopted our two beautiful children.

I had fertility issues for 4 years, am pregnant now with #2. Yes, Hsg should be done before they prescribe any meds, because they need to know if you have any cysts or fallopian blockages that would. They should also check your hormones about day 3 before prescribing meds, also mid cycle or day 21, depending on which hormones the doc is testing for. The best advice I can give you is find a good urologist for your husband. Your doctor is going to be treating you, and you really need to find out if there are any problems on your husbands side. Ask your doc for a referral for your husband or your husbands primary care doc for a referral. Also, when you go in to have your HSG, ask your doc for something to help calm your nerves like Xanax or Valium. Tensing up during the procedure can be painful. I've had it done twice, the first time the doc did not prescribe anything and it was terrible. The second time I went to a different doc and took Xanex, and it was so easy, I didn't feel a thing. Also take ibuprophen about an hour before. Get on the infertility forums, and you will get all kinds of info. Good luck.

I agree with the other responders - this test is a good place to start. I would suggest you go to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (someone who specialized in fertility). My SIL got pregnant after having the HSG. In fact, your chances of conceiving are higher the first 3 months after having the test done. (I've heard it called the roto rooter for your tubes. LOL)

I found the HSG to be extremely painful, but most do not. Aleve did not work for me (I took prescription strength) but admit to being a "weenie" when it comes to that kind of pain.

Good luck. I know it is frustrating and heartbreaking when you want a baby so bad and cannot get pregnant.

I had this test done after trying for 9 months before I had any blood work to see if my tubes were open. It was a day procedure and I only had a little cramping after - everything looked good. It took 2 more months to get pregnant, lost my first pregnancy, and got preggo 3 months after miscarriage. Now have a happy, healthy, vibrant and rambunctious 17 month old. Results are immediate - you can see what's happening on the monitor along with the doctor. Good luck to you!

I would talk to the doc if you are concerned. If he isn't a fertility specialist, he may do the hsg test first, and if there is concern, then recommend a specialist that is better able to help you. Don't freak out. It is a good thing that he is doing something proactive rather than continuing with the "wait and see" approach.

No need to flip out.
This test makes sense to me.
Why put you through a whole battery of tests
if it turns out there's a blockage of some sort.
S.

Ok, I admit I don't know anything about HSG... BUT... there's a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Wechsler and myself and several friends swear this book is magic. You may have already read every book, article, study -- but if you haven't, I 100% recommend this book.

Good luck!

Well the HSG is going to rule out the physical/structural problems right off the bat and that may be the line of thinking. I would assume that you've already had your yearly type exam by this doc so he is moving on to what he can't see to rule that out. If nothing is physically wrong, then he will most likely move on to blood tests during your cycle.

I had an HSG test first after being diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". I became pregnant within the month after that test. Even though it did not show any blockage, the doctor told me that sometimes it just clears things out .....I would definitely have the test. For me it was painless and so worth it!

The HSG test is a bit more involved, but it is a "physical" test. It will determine if something is wrong with your fallopian tubes. If your periods are regular, that's usually a pretty good indicator that you are ovulating. If you're ovulating and not conceiving, then the next-most-likely reasons are a tube problem or a semen problem. I guess I'm a little surprised that they haven't done a semen test first.

I had an HSG several years ago, and the results were practically instantaneous. The radiologist injects a special fluid into you, and then takes a series of xrays. You watch as the fluid moves through the tubes. Ultimately it will either squirt out the other end, or, reveal a blockage somewhere along the way that prevents that from happening.

If there's a blockage, then there are things that can be done to fix it which should restore fertility. If there's no blockage, then 1) you have peace of mind knowing your tubes are in good shape and 2) you can move on to other areas to determine why you aren't conceiving.

Good luck!