HSG Question

mrshall1027 · November 2013

I was finally able to schedule my HSG for next Tuesday and I've been freaking out about it. I'm not nervous about the procedure itself, but about the results I may get. I was just wondering, if you felt comfortable enough, if any of you could share what your results were and what steps you had to take next. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

LuckyAngel07 · November 2013

You know as you're getting it done what the status of your pipes are.

Basically, you lie down, they insert something through your cervix (my dr had me cough hard once as she inserted it, and I didn't even feel it go in), and then pump the iodine in. They watch it go into your uterus on the x-ray monitor.

She had me tilt my hips ever so slightly to one side and then to the other to get the dye to go into my fallopian tubes. It then spills out the ends of your tubes.

As long as it fills up your uterus and then flows into/through/spills out of your tubes, everything is clear. They're really just looking to make sure nothing is blocked and preventing your eggs to reach your uterus. Occasionally they can see if you have any sort of abnormality in your uterus.

I was all clear on all counts. Take a couple of Advil beforehand. It was like the most intensely painful cramps ever, but it's only while they're injecting the iodine. As soon as it was over, I felt fine. Oh, and bring a pad. You'll leak afterward, and the pad they give you is like 5 pads in one it's so thick!

amccul20 · November 2013

my experience was basically the same as @LuckyAngel07 's but they had a very hard time getting the tube up my cervix because it was curved and so that wasn't awesome, I ended up bleeding quite a bit.

but besides that they used water in mine and we watched it travel through my tubes! so you'll know right then and there what the dealio is.

and i'm sure it will go easily for you! and afterwards you'll be wondering what you got all worked up about:)

RockABye · November 2013

I hope it goes well for you! HSG experiences are so varied that it's hard to say what yours will be like. Mine was horrible, but that's because I had two blocked tubes so no dye could get through and they kept pushing the dye in, hoping it was just "gunk" blocking them (no dice for me.. they were solid polyps). I definitely don't think I'm the norm though so please don't let that worry you. I ended up having to have laparoscopic surgery to unblock my tubes and treat endo which was actually a million times easier than the HSG in my case lol.. The surgery was a piece of cake!

I will add, that a couple months ago, I had a saline sonogram which is different but kind of similar procedure and it wasn't that bad at all since my tubes were not blocked anymore and the saline just flowed right through where it was supposed to. I cried like a baby beforehand b/c I was expecting HSG pain, and was pleasantly surprised! I can only imagine that's how it is for most gals during the HSG.

Definitely take some advil or something beforehand and take a pad. I had some bleeding after the HSG for several days, almost like a light AF. I didn't have any cramps or ANYTHING immediately following the procedure. I actually went shopping. Just do expect some spotting/bleeding. No biggie though. Good luck!! I really hope it goes well and you get good results!

DangerMuffin23 · November 2013

Similar to @luckyangel07. They had me cough as well to insert the catheter into my cervix, very slight pinch feeling. The pain from the iodine lasted about 10-15 seconds and I got through it by controlled breathing. (I also took two aleve before hand as well, along with a pack of antibiotics they rxd me as a precaution). My doctor actually gave me a nice thin maxi so nothing huge and antiquated. I loved that I knew the results before I even got up. Good luck!

sparklingdiamond · November 2013

Mine was a similar experience to the other girls. The catheter came out once though and he had to put it back in. I was so freaked out I almost passed out (I get queasy super easy). My tubes were all clear though. I hope you get good results!

Uptowngirl2009 · November 2013

I never had my HSG but my doctor told me that the HSG is both diagnostic and therapeutic. For example, if there is a blockage in there, sometimes pushing the dye in can clear the blockage out at the same time. If it's a more severe blockage though then this is not the case and it would need further treatment. I hope you get the all clear though!

mrshall1027 · November 2013

Thanks for all the input! I'm not nervous at all about the procedure itself. I'm a pessimist and always fear the worst, and I can't help but be worried about the results. I need to realize I can't do anything about it right now and just have to be patient.

My doctor also told me if everything is all clear, than I can go ahead and start clomid this cycle. I'll be on CD8 the day of my HSG and he will get the results the same day and can call in a prescription for me to start it that day as well. He said since I have irregular cycles (I won't get one unless I take provera), I can start it later without any issues. They usually do it from CD5-CD11, so this will only be off by a few days. Does this sound odd? Also, when do you usually go in for monitoring during a clomid cycle? They told me but I didn't write it down and now I can't remember.

sparklingdiamond · November 2013

With my clomid cycle, I went in for a baseline u/s and bloodwork on CD3. Then I took the clomid for 5 days (I can't remember exactly which days those were) and came back about around CD 11 or 12 I think for another u/s. I wasn't showing much progress, so I came back a few days later for another one. Ultimately, that cycle ended up being cancelled because clomid didn't work for me. But the procedure was still the same when I did the Femara. I did two u/s and then did the trigger shot. Are you doing an iui?

mrshall1027 · November 2013

No IUI. I don't ever ovulate on my own and my RE wants to see how I do on clomid. He wants me to come in for an u/s and then possibly do a trigger shot at that time. I want to say this would be around CD12-CD14.

RockABye · November 2013

That doesn't sound odd to me. In 5 years of being off BCP and TTC, I have only started ovulating on my own the past 2 cycles so I understand! I only did two cycles of Clomid but stopped b/c of side effects. The first round, I didn't respond at first so in the middle of the cycle, I did a second round at a higher dose. This makes me think that starting late on the Clomid is no big deal at all. I did respond to the second dose but I didn't get KU. I had to stop the second round due to major visual side effects so no dice there.

As for monitoring, they'll do a baseline (which may or may not happen if you start it immediately after the HSG, since they will have JUST been in there) and baseline bloodwork. I came in several days after I finished the Clomid pills and then I came in a couple times a week for sonograms and bloodwork to see how things were progressing. It was no biggie at all. The appts were quick and easy. When I was close, I did the trigger shot and came back 36ish hours later for the IUI (our cycles were the same price IUI vs non IUI with Clomid, so we just did it). I have always had a follicle collapse sonogram the day after IUI (or ovulation) to confirm ovulation. If I hadn't ovulated then, they would've done another IUI and I'd have come back the next day to double check. Good luck to you!!

Xan921 · November 2013

My procedure was very similar to what @LuckyAngel07 described except they didn't have me cough and I experienced no pain at all. I actually preferred the thicker pad afterwards because I had the dye coming out on top of some bleeding. I spotted for about a week afterwards on and off.

I was so worried that my tubes would be blocked because of an infection that I had when I was younger but the doctor was able to tell me instantly that I was all clear. I had to get it done at a radiology center rather than at the RE's so they gave me copies of the xrays which I thought were really cool to look at.

I know waiting for answers is very tough but worrying won't change the outcome so just hang in there and you'll get through this next step before you know it (easier said than done, I know). I'll keep you in my thoughts!

As far as next steps, that's what I'm finding out tomorrow at my follow-up appointment. My nurse called me and told me to start taking Metaformin today so I'm assuming something showed up on my blood work to show PCOS (my ovaries don't have cysts but the RE said prior to my testing that I could have PCOS without the cysts) but other than that based on my other tests I'm hoping my RE will let me move onto clomid and possibly IUI.

LooneyLife · November 2013

I did 3 TI and 2 IUI with Clomid/Bravelle and Ovidrel trigger. Each time I had CD3 US/BW, Clomid CD3-7, Bravelle CD9, then first monitoring appointment CD11. I was usually ready to trigger within a few days and would continue monitoring until they told me to trigger.

ecinereb · November 2013

My HSG was pretty similar to PP's, they had a bit of trouble with the dye on one side so it was a little longer than I assume most people's but in the end everything was all clear.

I think starting Clomid CD8 is no big deal but I wonder about CD5-11 being normal, I think usually most people take it for 5 days (CD3-7 or CD5-9). CD5-11 would be 7 days.

I usually had u/s CD 2 for baseline, took Clomid CD3-7 and came in CD10 and every few days after to monitor follicle growth. I didn't use a trigger so checked with OPK's at home as well as with the u/s for TI and/or IUI.

GL with the HSG and the Clomid.

mrshall1027 · November 2013

Oops, I meant CD5-9 for Clomid.

Thanks again for all the input. Now, I just need to distract myself for the next week or learn to be patient!

HSG Question

Re: HSG Question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards