Tell me about your HSG test

[chocolatepie]

Mine is scheduled for Tuesday - since it's the last bit of testing needed before making a plan, I'm anxious to get it done but I also have read it can be painful.

Pap smears are really uncomfortable/painful for me - is this similar? Worse? I struggled through my last one :/

Does the cramping end when the test ends or will I be crampy the rest of the day?

Thanks for any insight! 

[seeyalater52]

I also have awful, painful paps. I did an SHG not an HSG but the worst part for me was when they put in the speculum and cleaned my cervix. It is very similar to a pap except lasts longer, and I found it extremely unpleasant. Then again, that’s also standard for IUIs and embryo transfers and I’ve now done what feels like a million. Basically I’m sorry your history with painful paps might lead this to be more uncomfortable for you than it seems like it is for others.

I took 800 ibuprofen beforehand and I was glad I did.

[cherryvalance]

The speculum/swab is the worst for me, too. At my last transfer, the RE told me to tell other doctors to insert the speculum upside down because of the assholishness of my cervix, so that might be something to ask.

Otherwise, the HSG itself was nothing. I had very minimal cramping and went to work afterwards.

[icedcoffee]

Mine was about the same as a pap, but I also don't really have pain from paps. I remember a little bit of cramping as they pushed the dye in, but that ended as soon as they finished. I'm sorry you have painful paps. I'd take ibuprofen beforehand.

[megstoo]

Mine was about the same as a pap. I had some slight discomfort during and some slight cramping after but nothing that ibuprofen didn't solve and didn't feel any worse than normal period cramps. After my 2nd one I had some slight spotting which is common as well.

[fairfax]

Mine was extremely painful BUT the cramping was very short - like maybe 3 minutes. The speculum and swabbing were just like a pap, so for me uncomfortable but not really painful. As soon as they injected the dye and inflated the balloon on the catheter I had horrible cramping. I honestly didn’t know if I could handle it but I breathed through it and they took the X-rays very quickly. As soon as they removed the catheter I felt much better. I was slightly crampy for a few hours after.

Having been through multiple IUIs and a saline sonogram - none of which were painful (except 1 IUI when the dr couldn’t place the speculum correctly) I now know it was the catheter balloon that was the culprit.

I would definitely take ibuprofen, or whatever you take for period cramps, an hour before. Good luck, and try to relax!