HSG test - very worried-anyone have any experiences to share please?

[Earhat]

Hi,
I am due to have HSG test next week, I have heard that it is excruciating and I am very worried. I don't find it easy to relax during these invasive tests and get very tense during normal scans which cause some pain.

I would really appreciate any advice from women who have had the test. I am ok with most procedures eg dentist, injections etc.. just suffer when having internal examinations.
Good luck to anyone going through these procedures, hope it results in a positive outcome.

I went on my own to have a HSG done and it was not too bad overall (the fear of it was worse than the reality). I got a taxi home afterwards.

I was given a couple of painkillers beforehand and a gown to wear. Do take some sanitary protection to wear, that dye although they don't use much (about a teaspoonful) does come out afterwards.

It is a useful test to have done as it can give information not easily accessible by other methods. Deformities INSIDE the tube can only be seen on x-ray.

The procedure itself should not be painful provided the dye is injected both slowly and carefully. You should receive the result of the HSG at the time; they should be able to tell you whether the tubes are patent (open).

Dear Meerkat,
Thank you so much, that really puts my mind at ease. I have read so many worrying posts, but I know sometimes the worst case scenarios are written up more often. I hope everything went well for you. Earhat

I didn't find the actual procedure particularly painful at all. I did get pains afterwards, but they were manageable with normal ibuprofen -a bit like a strong period pain.

You'll be fine, really! It goes very quickly too, and they tell you immediately what they can see, which is great. Definitely take some thick sanitary pads though. Good luck :)

I didn't find it painful but I did just find it a bit unsettling. I'm really not the sort to clutch strangers' hands but when the very kind nurse at the head end offered me a paw, I was very grateful to be holding it! But was fine immediately afterwards. There comes a moment during the procedure when you're just feeling '"grrr, enough already" but it's not pain, just your body and brain feeling, "there's something going on inside me that really shouldn't be..." But it's worth it to find out if anything is amiss and fingers crossed its all good news for you

I had mine a while ago, but as with the other posters, I completely agree that the procedure itself was not bad.

I was all over the place beforehand due to too much googling. I did seriously consider running away just before it started because I was so scared, and then it was fine. I bled a little afterwards and a fair bit of dye came out. I was sensible enough to take my own protection to the hospital, but stupidly gave my bag to DH who was with me, sitting in the waiting room when I got dressed again. So I ended up with the hospital issue enormous towels, not so recommended. And now looking back (two years down the line, including a lap&dye, countless dildocams, 6 IUIs and a MC) the indignity was relatively minor as well. Although it didn't feel that way at the time, as it was one of our initial batch of investigations.

Good luck, it is not too bad.

Dear Frisky and Cava,
Thank you, for your reassuring words. I'm sure it will be worth it in the end, wish it was all much easier! Hope you both had good results.

Lemon Drizzle,
Sounds like you have been through the mill. Hope things are better now? Yes I am guilty of the googling too : /. There are so many negative accounts. I am very grateful for all the replies as it is difficult to know who to listen to. Thanks for taking the time to talk me through it - hopefully I won't run on the day now : )

Ta ear, sadly no success story to tell, getting ready to get back on the TTC horse, we've had a good number of months off after the MC and I am ready to start again.

Oh, and I just remembered, I found the bit where they attach the bit to your cervix the most uncomfortable and since have discoved my cervix generally dislikes meddling. But I distinctly remember thinking right, now it is going to hurt and it didn't and then they said, it is all in (and I was really surprised). Then they took a number of X-rays to see the dye moving and they had a second screen in with me, I found that part all very interesting. The tubes are really long and a lot thinner than I expected!

Lemon,

So sorry to hear about your miscarriage, such a very hard experience to endure. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

The science bit sounds interesting! Really, very good luck for the future.x

I didn't find it painful either, at one point it felt slightly uncomfortable but definitely not painful. As someone said earlier take a couple of ibuprofen beforehand and you should fine.
I was so worried after hearing horrible stories but it really isn't too bad!
Good luck!

hi Ear I have recently had hsg as well, it was fine.

I found it to be like a longer smear, with more people in the room. there was no pain during it at all and once she was done and I sat up the dye came straight out! (tmi) I didn't use any pads or anything and had no bleeding after. in fact we dtd the same night as I had it done on cd9 and I ov on cd10 so didn't want to miss it!

hope yours goes ok

Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helped on the day. All over now (not the horror story I read about online), the woman who did it was very professional. Wish there were more experienced women in this field.

Hi
I had the hsg test today . Firstly it was over really quickly
They lay you on a bed with the camera at the side of you . The doctor then wipes your area and inserts an instrument similar to having a smear test.
Then she inserts the catheter and slowly injects the dye this is when I experienced a sharp period like pain in the stomach . They ask you to refrain from touching your stomach or you will have to repeat the procedure the pain was quite sharp but was over really quickly and it is a forgetful kind of pain uncomfortable but bearable . I did squeeze the assistants hand quite a bit. I was prescribed quite a few antibiotics after which made me feel a bit ill slight period pain like sensations after but all in all if eel fine now . Hope this helps