Hsg test

[Cynthialb]

Hello is anyone familiar with hsg test? I've been trying to conceive for 6 months with no luck and always a lot of pain before period so my dr wants to check if my fallopian tubes are blocked. Does hsg help to unblock the blocked tubes? Or it takes a longer process?

I've had one recently for unexplained infertility and it was really straightforward.

No discomfort and my tubes weren't blocked. My specialist said the procedure can help dislodge any "goo" in the tubes and I did fall pregnant 2 cycles after (I had also starter clomid, so not sure which helped more).

I think if the tubes are blocked, the hsg won't help with this, it just diagnoses it.

I had a hycosy, which IMO is better because it doens't use Xray- which hsg does. Yes, the radiation is low, I personally don't want more radiation around my pelvis than absolutely necessary, and if a procedure is just as effective without it- why have hsg?

I've read of some people having some discomfort, but mainly if the tubes are partially blocked. If fully blocked- it wont do a thing. I took 2 paracetamol beforehand and it was fine. I've had smears which were more uncomfortable. Wear a panty liner incase of any spotting after.

Hi

I had a HSG yesterday and thought I’d come on and share my experience incase anyone else also happens to come onto this thread and is worried about it.

I had really built this up in my head and as usual went straight to my best friend Dr Google. I read accounts of some women saying it was unbearable and worse than child birth and other women saying that they couldn’t even feel any of it! The majority were somewhere in the middle, describing it like a bad period pain. It seemed to me that there was no way of telling what kind of an experience you were going to have.

I took a 5mg diazepam, two paracetamol and two ibuprofen about 45 minutes before going in. They sat me down and explained the risks eg such as infection, although my only worry really was the pain. The radiographer was so lovely and she just looked me straight in the eye and said- it’ll be painful, but it’ll be worth it and it won’t last long at all.

I got changed into a gown and lay down on the table. Whilst the radiographer was inserting the speculum, a lovely Scottish nurse was up by my head, holding my hand and talking to me, distracting me through the whole thing. At first, the speculum felt quite painful because I was so tense and anxious so I asked them to remove it, did some deep breathing and then asked them to try again whilst pushing my bum into the bed and breathing slowly with my eyes closed whilst also asking the lovely nurse about her job and life choices, ha! That helped and the speculum went in a lot easier the second time.

I couldn’t feel the catheter go in nor could I feel the balloon. Then she warned me that the dye was about to be inserted. This felt like a gradual burning type sensation at first and then increased into what I can only describe as a very bad period pain, like someone was stood with a heavy boot on top of my womb. I wanted to curl up but my legs were straight and of course couldn’t really move them. I said ‘wow’ and opened my eyes in response to the pain but it lasted 60 seconds tops before it started to disappear.

After those 60 seconds- nothing. Not even any cramping. I was so overjoyed that it wasn’t any where near as bad as I thought it would be and I treated myself to some
ice cream on the way home! There was some slight bleeding but only that evening, next day mine had stopped but I know can be longer/heavier for others.

Both my tubes were clear and I think had they been blocked, it may have been more painful. However, seeing as it lasts no longer than a minute, I think I would have gotten through it okay.

I hope this brings comfort to someone!