Trying to Conceive: 12 Months, Still Trying Community

Hi there. I had an HSG done last year and I was so nervous beforehand that it would be really painful. But from my experience, it wasn't that bad. It was a bit painful, like really, really bad cramping, but it only lasted maybe 10-15 seconds so it was very short lived. The rest of day I just had some minor cramping and spotting. Definitely take something beforehand though. It does help.

Also, my DH had himself worried sink when it came to the SA. And he was even able to do it from home and take it in!! Kind of irritated me because I was doing all this invasive testing, and by comparison, his part was so easy. Men can be kind of funny about those things sometimes.

Good luck with all the testing. I hope you get good results on everything. Please KUP!

Hi,
I, too, had been told by one person that the HSG test was horrible and then by another that it wasn't that bad. I'll tell you honestly, it wasn't that bad. I actually had it cone the day before Thanksgiving last year and pretty much felt like I was the turkey on the table. But, it was really fine. I didn't take anything before or after the test and I was good. The only thing I will warn you of is that it gets very messy. I would recommend bringing a pad with you. I think they offered me one, but it was one of the huge ones. Glad I had my own.
My husband was able to do the same thing...provided his "sample" at home and brought it to the office. They have it so easy! We're starting IUI and they said that he can do the same thing for his contribution. Lucky him!
Good luck...it's good to get the ball rolling with the testing.
Kerri

I am glad you asked! Mine is in a few weeks too and I have been nervous about it...But I have read so many stories online about how it helped them get pregnant pretty quickly so I am excited too! I had my bloodwork done too, but I know they didn't pick a certain day of my cycle so I am wondering after reading your post if I should have it done again? Guess I should ask my Dr...We have been trying a year and 1/2 too, already did the SA and results were good. So hopefully something will happen with the HSG. Good luck to you!!!

Hey gals! Thanks for your advice - I did bring my own pad (thank goodness because I think theirs was the size of a diaper!) and it was quite messy. I'm still experiencing spotting and cramping, but have been camping out on the couch (and, well, milking it from my husband a little more than needed, but hey...). First off, I took 600mg of Advil (3) beforehand - roughly an hour ahead of time. It didn't help. I was in SO much pain, I'm not going to lie. And to make matters worse, the doctor's assistant or trainee or whatever did the actual insertion, etc - and SHE DID IT WRONG. So, they had to do it again. Fortunately a woman from my church who I know pretty well was one of the radiologists!! She held my hand as I squeezed hers, brushed my hair as I was in tears the second time and talked to me during it to help (try) to take my mind off of it. I would have been ok if it had just been once, but TWICE was horrible. I'm sure everyone has different pain tolerances and such - but, in short, I'm not going to lie - it was a painful experience. Short, albeit, was only 5-10 minutes (everything, from prep to doing it...twice...)...but, again, not gonna lie - it hurts! On a good note - my tubes are clear! Yay! I did watch the dye flow into my ovaries and was happy they are unobstructed. So, there's one thing we can cross off the list! And my doctor did say that women sometimes are more fertile after this procedure so to make sure we continue to try the next few months - he said that sometimes the dye clears out the tubes and it works out well. So, hopefully it does go well - and I'll get to experience the WONDERFUL pain of childbirth...which is a pain I can't wait to have!! Thanks for the comments ladies!! Baby Dust, and I'll keep you posted. I'm interested as to what your doctors are doing as well...if there is anything I should be asking, etc... Thanks!!!! <3

So, since mine came back clear, I now am in the process of scheduling an SA for my husband...and let me tell you, I can't find ANYWHERE that does it!!! Other than fertility specialists - and none of them accept my insurance (and without insurance it's around $500!). I finally found a hospital which my insurance accepts that does it, but no one is answering the phone. Ridiculous that no one offers this test - but I supposed it's because it needs to be analyzed pretty much on the spot. My husband will be disappointed he can't do it at home, as we live about 45 minutes from the hospital (the joys of living in the middle of nowhere).

After what I went through yesterday, I kind of wish he would have went for HIS test first...seeing as I'm in the clear as far as blocked tubes go. Speaking with one of the receptionists at my doctor's office today who had issues with fertility (and she wound up adopting, and told me she has a beautiful 3-year old!) - she sympathized with my experience during the testing, and agreed that it is not a pleasant one. She also said that if I would go the IUI or IVF route, they hurt FAR less than the test did! Unreal! I'd imagine it would hurt WORSE!

Baby dust and <3

oh my gosh, I am sorry you had to do it twice!! That does not sound fun at all, but I am glad it came back clear

Did you ask specifically about the cost for SA? I paid out of pocket for mine and it was only around $90. Seems weird to be that high but I guess every doctor could be different. and so weird so many places don't offer it! I did think it was silly when I scheduled mine the lady I had to call only does the test once a month. She was pretty picky about the day and time too. Oh well - at least your insurance will cover it!

I have heard IUI is painful- so that's good news!! I hope I don't have to do that, I would have such a hard time with giving myself shots!

YUP! I did ask specifically - however both places I called were infertility specialists, not labs. The labs in my area don't offer it because they all send them out for testing - and, again, apparently it needs to be done right away and it's something that you can't send out and do four or six hours later.

Hopefully you won't have to, and I hope your HSG goes well (and that you'll only have to do it once!). Maybe yours won't be so bad - again, just make sure you take something beforehand for pain. Even though I don't think it will stop the "cramping" during, I think it did help me afterwards as after a few minutes I was able to get up and walk and was totally fine. And, I'd like to think it helped with the pain during a little. I hope it goes well for you!!!

I do think my cat is helping me prepare for having kids, as he's sitting here meowing at me to pay some attention to him, so I better go do that!

Baby Dust! <3

I'm so excited for you! My HSG was painful, but I'm soooo glad I did it because we found out that I had 4 polyps and needed a D&C. The surgery wasn't that bad, and I'm very glad to know that my fallopian tubes aren't blocked and that everything else looked good.

The other thing that I really liked was all of the blood tests they ran on me. I had borderline insulin levels, so they put me on Metformin. I also had lower iron levels, so I went on a multivitamin. I was relieved to find out that my thyroid was normal, as well as cholesterol levels.

When my husband went for his SA, it came back extremely low, so they tested him again. The second result was much better, so much that we're trying IUI first instead of IVF. ($1000 sounds much nicer than $10,000).

Good luck with your tests!!!!

My doctor tried to do my polyp removal and D&C in his office with just a paracervical block for numbing me. We had to reschedule for the hospital under full anethesia because the pain meds didn't work at all. I was in so much pain, I couldn't stop crying and thought I was going to trigger an asthma attack. Apparently, anything that's a benzodiazepine (valium, xanax,etc.) doesn't work on me.

The HSG wasn't as bad as the other procedure, but I was pretty bad for me, too. Thankfully, it didn't take that long and seeing the results made it worth it. I'm so sorry that you had to go through it TWICE! (yikes!@!!)

Hi ladies!

Hope you are all doing well!!!

So, on a good(?) note, I heard from my doctor today!! Everything on my end came back normal, from the HSG to alllll of the blood work they ran. Which is good.

My husband's SA on the other hand, not as good. His morphology is in the "abnormal" range, I think they said 14% (the other thing was 86%). Not really sure "what" they were, but that's what the nurse told me. So, now he has to go for another SA and then if it comes back abnormal again, most likely he'll be referred to a urologist. So, I'm hoping it's not a huge deal - she said we may still get pregnant with the abnormal morphology, it just makes it harder...I'm glad it's nothing "MAJOR", persay, but I guess we'll have to see how this goes...has anyone else had any issues with that?

Thanks! Take care and best wishes!