HSG- is it that painful and do I actually need one?

[margaritaontherocks]

Hi,

This probably belongs in Health or Conception, but I'm going to post here first, for traffic.

Bit of background, I already have a DC (12) from a previous relationship.

When I was 18, I was diagnosed with PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and was told I had a 10% chance of being infertile. Obviously I wasn't, as I conceived DC 3 years later.

My new DP and I are considering trying for a baby, but are both female, so it's not really a case of lots of early nights, unfortunately.

Because of my age (35) and my previous PID, I thought it was best that I have some tests before we begin officially trying, in case we're just wasting our time and money.

My GP agreed to send me for an HSG, but after doing a bit of research, I'm really worried about the pain. I find smear tests agony and so I would imagine I'll be one of those who find the process very uncomfortable. If I have to have it done, then I will, but given I conceived post PID, is it a necessary procedure?

TIA

Bump

No advice, sorry, just a bump

Probably not what you want to hear but I found it the worst procedure by far and I've done five cycles of IVF. It is quite quick if that's any consolation.

I had this done. It's relatively quick (5 minutes iirc) and the worst pain I felt was bad cramping. Probably worse than my normal period but nothing bad and certainly not worse than my c section! Worth having done to check everything is ok if you are TTC.

Thanks for the bump, pooopy

codfish, sounds horrific

Custard, I wouldn't mind bad cramping. The pain I have during a smear, well, any examination involving a speculum actually, is always excruciating, so this is why I'm worrying so much.

Are they using a small speculum when you have smears etc done? This might make things more comfortable for you.

Cherie, I did actually request a small one for my last smear, after putting it off for 3 years and doing a lot of research. I think it made a very slight difference, but was still pretty horrible.

You could try and take ibuprofen and paracetamol beforehand to help with the pain?

margarita, I had this done.

I felt a bit of an uncomfortable feeling when the speculum went in but it was absolutely fine after that! Didn’t feel anything else.

I did dose up Nurofen beforehand and that probably helped.

The best bit- I was pregnant the following month.

Good luck.

I had this done in June. Had ibuprofen and paracetamol and felt everything. It was the worst pain I've ever experienced. They had to stop the procedure because I was in too much pain.

I don't think there's any way of knowing if you're going to be in pain or not. The speculum going in was fine, hardly felt it, the balloon then the dye was excruciating. I just didn't expect it to be so bad. Squeezed the poor healthcare assistant's hand so hard and tried to concentrate on my breathing but it was too much. If they'd offered gas and air I suspect that would have helped.

Good luck

I had this done, didnt take any pain killers as was very paranoid about what ibuprofen does to fertility and do not take any form of apin killer anyway. The only discomfort experiences was the speculum, apart from that there was no pain or discomfort

To be fair, I wouldn't have one unless it was necessary.

The cramps were awful, I had cold towels placed on me, two nurses holding my hands... and then they had to turn me. OMFG. Giving birth was better and DS was back-to-back.

Lady before me passed out.

OP, if it's a necessary evil then have it done, and let's be honest you might be fine, but prepare yourself for it it to be vile.

I really do wish you the best of luck though.

Venus, were any of your tubes blocked? That can make it extra painful.
Sorry you had to go through that pain.

@ISpeakJive. Thank you, one tube is fine, the dye webt into the other but they didn't see it come out. I have a tilted uterus so the doctor suggested the dye favoured one side? They did say that if they'd tried they probably would've seen the dye spill out but they didn't want to put me through it.

ISpeakJive, so glad to read your outcome

Venus, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Must have been very traumatic.

Same to you, YesItsMe.

I've had this done but privately. It was slightly different to the NHS one as they didn't use x-rays. They had to stop part way through because I couldn't handle the pain. The painful part for me was when they were inflating the balloon of the catheter they insert through your cervix. I had to go back a few days later and be given sedation for it. One of the nurses was horrible to me and said if I couldn't handle this how on earth was I expecting to be able to give birth. I already felt like crap and didn't her to point out something that was already in my head.

I tried to read as many reports from other women that had it done and everyone seemed to have very different experiences with it. Some say they didn't really feel anything apart from slight cramps and my experience seemed to be less common.

I would say for me it ‘smarted’. I had painful smears to start with but was told I have a tilted uterus and now I say in advance of any gynae tests about it and they approach at a different angle. I felt when the dye went in and they pushed it through my cervix - that’s what smarted. I also had cramping for a couple of days afterwards that required OTC co-codamol. I was told the procedure if more painful if you haven’t already given birth because nothing had been through my cervix yet so it might not be so bad for you if you already have DS?

Cat, that's terrible! Can't believe you were spoken to like that. I never understood the logic of that kind of approach. For one, they have no idea what level of pain you're actually feeling. It's just so unsupportive, which I would think was her main role. Did you complain?

Faith, I had a c section actually. Something seems to have changed since I had DC though. Smears before then were completely painless. I couldn't feel a thing and didn't understand why the Dr told me to take deep breaths etc. Now though, I suspect my womb has changed position, because it feels as though the speculum is in the wrong bit iyswim.

I do worry I have symptoms of furred or blocked tubes. For example, I have ovulation bleeding, but sometimes almost like a mini period and a lot of pain. I've been examined, but they just put the bleeding down to a hormonal issue. That said, my mum had horrendous middle of the month pain and bleeding and she was very fertile.

No I didn't complain although I probably should have done. I was paying a lot of money to have the procedure and it just seemed the comments were so uncalled for. It was worth having it done just to be able to tick off blocked tubes as a problem. I was told that sometimes the procedure itself can help to unblock the tubes and people have conceived after it with no other problems.

Ah okay that’s slightly different then.

Hi thank you so much for sharing your experience for your hsg. I have one next week but I’ve asked the doctors to do it “under sedation”. You mentioned you had to go and get the test again due to the pain with sedation. Could you kindly tell me about your second experience with sedation please, did you feel any pain at all and how you found it the second time round?

thanks x