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Infertility

Can anyone answer some questions about HSG for me please?

15 replies

Tinkleybison · 10/03/2014 14:34

I'm having this done next week and I was wondering if anyone could answer a couple of questions for me?

  • how painful is it really?
  • Is it true that if you do have a blocked tube its going to be a lot more painful than if you haven't?
  • Will I bleed a lot afterwards?
  • Is there any truth to the idea that it can give you a bit of a fertility boost for a couple of months (assuming no blockage)
  • Will it leave me feeling 'wobbly' afterwards or will I happily jump on a bus and make my way home? (appreciate that is subjective!)


I've read a few things online that range between saying it will be mildly painful through to intense cramping, so I'd be interested to hear what people actually thought. TIA!
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Perdita123 · 10/03/2014 16:25

Mine was a bit painful but probably no worse than an uncomfortable smear test. It felt just like period cramps - intense but really very brief. I took two ibruprofen before to help just in case. I just told myself that if I was ever pregnant I was going to have to deal with a lot more pain! I brought a sanitary towel with me for after but I had no bleeding at all and felt fine, but I've heard some people have cramps for a little while after. Slightly wobbly but basically fine, and just relieved it was done. I was told my tubes were all clear, and also that I would be more fertile for the next 3 months. That was 2 months ago and nothing yet but still hoping! Good luck, you'll be fine.

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Tinkleybison · 10/03/2014 16:46

Thank you for replying Perdita, that's really helpful.

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Hedgehog1977 · 10/03/2014 17:23

The absolute worst bit was the anticipation, but the procedure wasn't that bad at all. I had a few cramps, but they were over really quickly. I had booked the day off work to feel sorry for myself, but could have gone back really! Didn't bleed at all afterwards, but was a bit sticky. For some reason I thought the dye would be dark, but it was clear. I have heard that it can make you more fertile - presumably if the reason for problems is a blockage. It took us around 9 months (I think) after mine to get my bfp though.
Hx

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Figaro82 · 10/03/2014 18:39

I agree with hedgehog that the anticipation is worse! It was no worse then a smear. Try to stay calm :). I have a Hysteroscopy on Friday so I'm trying to not get worked up and remind myself the HSG wasn't that bad! Good luck x

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TheWomanWithTheMysteriousLump · 10/03/2014 18:54

In my experience
A bit
Yes I was told that I clearly didn't have a blocked tube because I didn't yelp
Yes it did the trick for me after 18 months trying despite being told we'd need ICSI Grin
Can't remember - not a problem IIRC

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TheWomanWithTheMysteriousLump · 10/03/2014 18:56

Oops, missed the bleeding question - can't remember tbh

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Thegingerpig · 10/03/2014 18:56

I had an HSG done in 2010 after ttc for 2.5 years. It was actually less uncomfortable than a smear for me, although it took longer. I bled a bit afterwards and I was glad that I took my own sanitary towels as the one the hospital gave me was enormous! I needed to use towels for about 5 days afterwards as had some discharge. I got my bfp one month later! DS1 is nearly 3 and DS2 is 1 and was conceived the first month we ttc.

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ToAvoidConversation · 10/03/2014 19:05

Took five minutes and didn't find painful but then I'm used to colposcopies. I didn't like the scan box thing coming down over my head or the four people looking at my vagina. I was told to wear my pants in to the the room and then immediately asked to remove them and all four people watched...

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/03/2014 20:51

I've had a HSG and this was my experience of it from your questions posed. It is a useful test to have done because it can give information not easily accessible by other methods; deformities INSIDE the tube for instance can only be seen on such an x-ray.

  • how painful is it really?


It should not hurt at all provided the dye is injected both slowly and carefully. I was given a couple of painkillers prior to the HSG.

  • Is it true that if you do have a blocked tube its going to be a lot more painful than if you haven't?


My tubes were patent (open); they should be able to tell you at the time if they are not

  • Will I bleed a lot afterwards?


About a teaspoonful of dye is used; it does come out so sanitary protection is needed afterwards.

  • Is there any truth to the idea that it can give you a bit of a fertility boost for a couple of months (assuming no blockage)


I have heard this but have never seen any concrete medical evidence suggesting this to be the case

  • Will it leave me feeling 'wobbly' afterwards or will I happily jump on a bus and make my way home? (appreciate that is subjective!)


I felt a bit wobbly afterwards and got a taxi home. I would not drive after that procedure.
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ToAvoidConversation · 10/03/2014 20:57

I drove straight afterwards and didn't have any issues.

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Tinkleybison · 10/03/2014 22:56

Thank you all so much for replying. You're great! So good to hear the experiences of some 'real' people. Thanks

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sallievp · 11/03/2014 13:52

i am also having this next week...this has been very reassuring for me. thanks everyone Smile

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Shellster52 · 12/03/2014 05:00

Interesting that mysteriouslump says she was told she didn't have blocked tubes because she didn't yelp. I did actually have one blocked tube but wouldn't say my HSG was painful. They did insert the dye a couple more times trying to see if the extra pressure would clear the blockage and get the dye to go through, so I guess I had that intense pressure feeling in my abdomen a few more times than for someone who just has the dye inserted once and it goes through both tubes first time. But still definitely not painful. Like Perdita, I told myself that labor would be a lot worse and that I can do this. The nurse told me that I handled the procedure the best she had ever seen - so maybe the whole mental attitude really plays a big part.

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dolphinsandwhales · 13/03/2014 13:39

Hi

I've had it done twice (a few years apart). I did find it uncomfortable but not unbearably so. A couple of paracetamol beforehand can help. My tubes are blocked, I couldn't tell you if it's easier if they're unblocked as I've no experience of it...

A sanitary towel for after is good. I wasn't wobbly, more like happy it was all done Smile

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eurochick · 13/03/2014 13:46

I was quite worried as I had heard of people being in a lot of pain but it was fine. I took a couple of nurofen beforehand.

I didn't find it painful at all - it was just like a smear with more people in the room (3 I think - dr, nurse and radiographer).
I have heard it can hurt if there is a bit of a blockage because of the pressure when they try to send the dye through. Mine wooshed straight through, painlessly.
I didn't bleed at all. Nor did any of the dye come out - it wooshed straight into my abdominal cavity!
I've heard that it can give a bit of a boost if there was some "debris" in the tubes. It did nothing for me though!
I took my husband with me as I had been warned I could feel a bit rough afterwards, but I was fine. I sent him straight to work and strolled the mile or so home on my own quite happily. I felt some mild period cramps afterwards, nothing more than that and no wobbliness.

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