A few details about the HSG Test

When I made the appointment for the HSG test I tried to find information on what I was about to go through. While I found alot of technical information - I never really found what to expect - I found alot of items about the Worst Case Scenarios but not the other side (Apparently only the worst case is interesting enough to worry about). I posted at the Pregnancy Weekly board and didn't get that many responses. This post is for the women that are about to get this test done and are scared of what the hell they are in for.

First and foremost - don't read all of the horror stories - they will only serve to give you nervous sleepless night and cold sweats!

OK - so here is my day:

I got up two hours early - I was going to be on time - I wanted to get it over with. (Oh - and I had to make sure the my husband and I fooled around - his test is on Friday and he needed to have "released himself" between 2 and 7 days before the test - well AF was here last week so that wasn't going to happen. Our deadline was 8:15 this morning - we completed the task with 2 minutes to spare!!! - TTC sucks!)

OK - so needless to say - I was late - I left my house at 9:23 - to be at the hospital at 9:30 - didn't happen. The whole way there I was rattling on and on - I was so nervous and scared of what was going to happen. At one point - I stopped in mid-sentence and said to my husband "Can you tell I am nervous?" He just smiled and pet my hair.

So we finally get to the hospital at 9:55am - go right into registration - she takes my name, address, social security number, rights to my first born, etc. - took all of 5 minutes - Miss Give me all your info tells me how to get to radiology "Did they say you are going to radiology"? Me: "I think so - there was a big argument about who was my designated radiologist - so I think so" Miss INfo: "Ok - take the elevator to the ground floor - follow the signs"

Enter Radiology - hand off my chart - chew my nails - starting shaking "is it cold in here" No, it is just me.

Jennifer? Yes that is me - Can my husband come with me? He can? good.

OK - get undressed from teh waist down put the robe down and come into the radiology room.

I walk into the room and there on a table are all of the shiny little instruments they will be inserting into me in a few seconds. My husband slowly looks at the instruments - He gets pale.

Miss Radiology Assistant: "Ok, hop up on the table - did your doctor explain what is going to happen" Me: "so so - not really"

Miss Assistant: "OK - we will be inserting this catheter through your cervix and into you uterus - we will then inflate a balloon and inject an iodine based solution while we take an x-ray. You may be uncomfortable or feel some minor cramping - much like a menstrual cramp"

Me: "Ok, sounds ok I guess"

Miss A: Your husband will need to leave the room - just outside the curtain during the procedure. (I start shivering - OK seriously - do you mean it is not cold in here - come on?) "Do you have any socks" well, as a matter of fact I do - babe they are in my pocketbook. Joey gets the socks and puts them on my feet.

OK, well I will get the doctor now - did you take any advil? Did I? Yes, I took four about 45 minutes ago! "Ok, so you are all set!"

In walks Doctor Iodine "Hi, I am doctor iodine, I am going to.....(same speech as Miss Assistant).

OK - so let's begin - Scoot down, lower, lower, little lower (Jesus, I am about to fall off of the table) OK that's good. I am going to insert the speculum now (ok, but usually I make someone buy me dinner before I let them 'insert the speculum') OK, little pressure, I am now going to clean your cervix with betadine (couldn't feel it).

OK - now I am inserting the catheter (Me: whimper - breathe slight pain).

Miss A: are you ok? You look nervous (Me: I am scared out of my mind but I am ok)

Doctor Iodine: OK - now I am going to blow up the balloon (another breath intake - very uncomfortable, borders on pain - but not quite)

Miss A: OK that was the worst part

Doctor Iodine: OK- you need to adjust the machine - Jenn you need to straighten out your legs a little bit (followed by a few minutes of adjustments)
OK - now I am inserting the iodine solution.
Now I am deflating the balloon.
Now I am extracting the cathetar

Miss A: You are all done - that was it (

That was it? Where was the intense pain - where was the screaming and unbearable cramps I read about?

Doctor Iodine: The test came out as good as we hoped - no blockages, no apparent uterine abnormalities - you did great - you can get dressed.

That was it - basically as long as it took to read this was as long as the procedure took - the prep and registration took longer than the test. From the "scoot lower" to the "you are all done" took about 5 minutes.

So - Friday is Joe's Test and then we go on Valentine's day for results and a plan of action moving forward.

My disclaimer is that I have read that if there were major blockages there can be a bit more pain because the solution has nowhere to go but my experience was fine - no real pain - the pain was like a menstrual cramp - and not even a really bad one.

If you are reading this - please stop worrying - it is not so bad - I wish I had someone to tell me the exact procedure and what to expect - Hope this helps someone.

Above is a picture of a Normal HSG