HSG/ Fertility Questions

Just wanted to say that there are also Integration Doctor's who specialize in conception/pregnancy, if you are interested or looking for a more gentler approach to conception. They take different tests than allopathic doctors and strive to correct the hormonal imbalances, and perhaps heavy toxicity and/or food allergies/intolerances and other such things that could be preventing or blocking conception--things allopathic doctors do not look for.

If you're interested, I know an Integration Doctor who specializes in fertility/conception in Madison, WI. Contact me if interested.

I had one done in 2007 after an ectopic pregnancy and a year after without another pregnancy. I got pregnant immediately! I had it done at the end of Jan. and found out that I was pregnant Feb. 12th! The doc said that sometimes it can clear your tubes. I found out that I have some scar tissue completely blocking one tube, and the other was cleared out by the ink. It was a little uncomfortable, almost like a long papsmear. Depending on your insurance, it should just cost a co-pay. Our insurance covered fertility treatments 100%. Hope this helps! I would do it now and now wait. It really wasn't a big deal, and the result was a beautiful baby girl!

I had an HSG performed after my 1st of 3 miscarriages. No issues. They tell you there will be discomfort and pinching. For some I know it was very painful but for me there was only slight pain. Overall IMHO as uncomfortable as a pelvic exam. Get it done soon. I now regret waiting for various testing and investigating other specialists. After 2 years and 4 total pregnancies we have our beautiful daughter. Now 3 years later we have been unable to conceive again even with assistance. At the 1 year post birth I asked for help and another HSG was performed (even easier the 2nd time - less scary) it showed possible tube blockage on one side. We elected to use Clomid for several months with no success. We have tried IUI, again nothing. We are now looking into IVF. Something I wanted to avoid but due to age, I'm 43 (gave birth just before my 40th birthday!) I may be running out of time. I do not want my girl to be an only child. I wish I had been more agressive with therapies and treatments and medicine to aid in conception. I blindly took the advice of my first OB thinking that since we got pregnant with him as our Dr. we'd be lucky again... If you're gut tells you to get more help... do it! Ask friends, go on line, check out different clinics and different OB's they are not all the same. In fact, my dr's nurse recommended the IUI. Not my dr. We are also trying Follistim injections. If a child is important enough to go through this... and my daughter is definately worth every pain and sorrow we went through then do everything you can!!! We will continue to try no matter the pain or expense (within reason of course) in our attempt to have #2. Our treatments were mostly covered by our insurance. I also have a 'baby fund' to help with extras. Set a limit to your pain and money like we did. Going through each cycle with hope and expectation and then the crash of having your period can shake any relationship. Make sure to keep talking and communicate ahead of time when to call it quits! You'll go crazy otherwise... really! It's such an emotional rollercoaster ride.
But what a ride it is when you have success!
GOOD LUCK
Mommy to 6 angels and 1 beautiful 3 year old daughter!

J.:
I've been in your shoes and decided to see an infertility specialist instead of my OB. They immediately did the HSG and although it was a bit uncomfortable, it showed them that everything was fine with the tubes. All my infertility and miscarriage problems that I had were due to low levels of progesterone, which is a very easy fix. The progesterone thing is a very common problem why women can't conceive and hold their babies. My advice to you is to have your progesterone checked and see an infertility specialist as opposed to to your OB. OB's are wonderful, but they obvioulsy have a very wide range in their speciality where the infertility specialists deal with infertility only and are up on the latest and the greatest. Good luck to you - it will happen!

I don't have any advice, as I am actually in the same boat– I miscarried in my first pregnancy and have been unable to get pregnant since. I just wanted to say wow, and thank you, that there are other people out there and the comments I just read below did wonders to assure me. We are just about to start fertility tests and since I don't like anything 'unknown' I was feeling a little panicky about what to do first, and what to expect. When I go in for my one year physical, I will have my doctor refer me to a fertility specialist, and will ask about having an HSG.

Thank you all!!! And I hope all goes well for you, J.! Go ahead, you don't want to wait to have tests done and then find out you have a long time of testing and treatment, pushing your child back even further. My husband and I made that mistake, as many people told us "You got pregnant once, you'll get pregnant again." Well, due to this advice and money/insurance issues, it is now four years later and we are still not pregnant. I really wish we had started sooner!

God bless!
M. D

Hi J.,

I know I'm a little late in responding, but wanted to throw in my 2 cents. You've gotten some great responses so far. First of all, I'm sorry about your miscarriage and trouble conceiving. My husband and I went through all the tests for our first baby, and some of the tests for our second baby. The bottom line is the HSG test was unsuccessful the first time around, but I got pregnant the following month so didn't need to continue. When we started trying for a 2nd child, I asked my doctor to just let me get the HSG test since it didn't work the first time. Turns out I do have a blockage in one of my tubes. My doctor put me on Clomid for 2 months and I'm currently due with baby #2 in 4 week! All the testing and medication probably would have cost us close to about $2,000, but fertility testing was covered by our insurance plan. Fertility treatments were not covered (so Clomid and ultrasounds to check on Clomid's effectiveness were not covered). I think that might be common. When I went on the Clomid, I needed to have ultrasounds to check if it was working correctly and those can be costly ($200 each). My doctor referred us to a fertility specialist after about 6 months of trying. I couldn't wait to find out what was taking so long, but my doctor did remind me that 6 months of trying is AVERAGE.

I wish you all the best!

J., I'm so sorry things have not been as quick as you'd like but I wouldn't rush into worry. The fact that you got pregnant once would lead me to believe you can get pregnant again. As far as the miscarriage goes, many woman miscarry their first pregnancy for no apparent reason. I've miscarried 4 but have 2 beautiful children. I'd ask your dr if he can do bloodwork during your next cycle to see if you're ovulating when you think you are. Maybe it's just a timing thing, or maybe you are ovulating prematurely and the eggs are not mature enough.

I, too, like some of the respondents below, conceived the month I had the HSG performed. We had been trying to conceive our second child for 8 months (at age 34) and had the test done to rule out any possible issues. I didn't have any blockage and my doctor said the same thing about the test flushing the tubes out and some conceiving after it had been done. I thought to myself, "Yeah... right." But, it happened (could have been coincidence, though). I didn't find the prodecure to be any more uncomfortable than a pelvic exam. I had some of the other non-invasive tests done like FSH levels and as far as I remember (it was over 2 years ago) the tests I had done combined cost $700-1,000. It was money well spent in our opinion.

Before you go through all the testing. I just wanted to recommend that you check out this link...it helped me.

http://www.womenlivingnaturally.com/articlepage.php?id=149

I had the HSG done at age 29. We had only been trying for 6 months on fertility medicine and still wasn't getting pregnant. The test is not bad at all. It is very fast and just slightly uncomfortable. The technician told me that some people actually get pregnant the month after this test because it just "may" take care of a small blockage in the tubes. When my mom got pregnant with me, it was right after she got the HSG. I also got pregnant the month after getting this test done. I spent under $1000 for all the fertility tests, including the tests done on my husband. I think it is well worth the money. I now have a wonderful 3 year old son and a "surprise" 2 year old daughter. Good Luck!

It seems early to me to be doing any testing. Usually you would have had to be trying for over a year, especially at your young ages, before testing would be done, and you've had a pregnancy during that time. I had two miscarriages before it was even suggested that genetic testing could be done. (Miscarriages are very normal, many women have had one or more.) I would suggest just doing what you can for your health - diet, exercise, relaxation. And keep doing what you've been doing, and even more often ;-)

I was 39 before I even went off of birth control, husband was 47, and I delivered my healthy baby girl right before I turned 41.

I had the HSG done after trying for 9 or 10 months. My doc told me that sometimes people are able to conceive right after the test because it kind of "flushes you out." It worked for me! It was mildly uncomfortable -- like menstrual cramps. I had the cramps for the rest of the day and spent the whole day on the couch. But, for me, it was worth it

I also agree with the rec of reading the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. And, I know it is difficult, but try to stay relaxed -- stress certainly can't help when you're ttc.

Good luck with everything!!!

I had an HSG that showed one blocked tube. I then got pregnant not long after during a month we figured the egg was coming from the blocked side. So we think the HSG "cleaned out" the blockage. I then started having miscarriages so I insisted on having the testing done. (my doctor only does it after 3 miscarriages and I had 2) They found I had a blood clotting disorder that was blocking blood from getting to the fetus. I went on blood thinners as soon as I got pregnant and now have 2 beautiful children as a result. Our tests were partially covered by insurance and it was still expensive. The clinic should be able to give you an estimate of the costs. Good luck!

Are the tests worth it? In my opinion yes they are and if your doctor is willing to do the tests before you've been trying a year or two he must have some concerns. My guess is if he wants to do the HSG he is concerned there is blockage and it could be blockage from your miscarriage. Some times they will do the HSG and they will not see any major blockages, but the HSG will clear out any small blockages that were there and were not detectable. The HSG was uncomfortable for me, but just uncomfortable not painful. My sister in law said hers was a little painful and uncomfortable.

If you haven't already, invest in the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler before pursuing any other testing. You could just have your timing all off! This book should be a MUST READ for all sexually active women trying to conceive OR trying to avoid!

My husband and I have had all the testing done we could possible have and insurance covered it all for the most part, I think 80%. None of the tests were painful, the HSG was just a little uncomfortable. If your doctor is recommending the tests then I would go ahead with them. We tried with our first child for 2 years and after 2 mis-carriages and fertility meds we were able to carry him to term (he was conceived 2 weeks after our 2nd mis-carriage without the use of drugs).

Now its been 3 years of trying for number 2 and 2 more mis-carriages and all the testing and there is no medical reason why we cannot conceive and carry a baby to term, very frustrating. We are going to start IUI treatments after my next cycle starts up, cannot afford In-Vitro so hopefully we will have some luck with IUI.

Good luck to you and your husband!

I would just go ahead and have the test done, it's peace of mind that your organs are working right.

And the sooner you start getting the testing done, the less you have to go through later. You may not be worried at this time, but once you do start to worry and wonder, the time goes very fast.

At least have the bloodwork done if nothing else. That's important for your hormone levels and could be an easy fix!