HSG testing...how bad does it hurt?

[Anonymous]

I am getting ready to schedule mine and am petrified that it is really going to hurt. Is it much worse then a pap smear? The idea of someone sticking something that far up really scares me. I know I sound like an idiot but I am really nervous.

[Anonymous]

It does hurt....its quick, but mine, at least was pretty rough. I think it matters a lot where you go and who does the procedure, so try and research that if your own doc isn't doing it. You might also want to ask if you can take anything. I know Alieve is a good over the counter, but my doc said (after the fact) that I could have taken a valium if I had someone drive me. I imagine other people will tell you it isn't so bad...the doc who did mine didn't seem to care about my comfort too much.

[Anonymous]

I am not going to sugar-coat it, it hurt awful. I took 2 valium and 4 advil and still felt it. Get your doctor to give you pain medication!

[Anonymous]

I found it uncomfortable, but not really painful, like PPs. To me, it felt a little worse than a pap smear. I took some Motrin beforehand and it really wasn't bad. It seems (based on PPs' comments) that it may depend somewhat on your doctor. The good thing is that it really is pretty quick. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I also found it uncomfortable, but not painful. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

[Anonymous]

no big deal at all....

[Anonymous]

It hurt, but where you go makes a big difference. I cannot say this with enough conviction...do NOT go to Georgetown Hospital. If your fertility clinic can do it, definitely go with them.

[Anonymous]

Mine did not hurt much (I took a couple Aleve before). I think it hurts more if there are some blockages in your tubes. I had mine done by a resident at GW (which was much cheaper than having it done at my fertility clinic). I will say that I found it emotionally difficult - probably because it was the first thing I really didn't want to do that I had to do b/c of infertility -- I think it was during the HSG that I realized I was starting down a long and difficult road.

[Anonymous]

Mine was definetly uncomfortable but did not hurt nearly as bad as the procedure they typically do before that one -can't remember what it's called -starts with an E. Also, because the first procedure was so painful and no one warned me to take advil, I loaded up on it for the HSG and that helped immensely. I know it's not recommended but done once will not hurt anything -I took 4 advil/Ib profren about 3 hours before the procecure and another 2 more an additional advils .5 hour before the procedure.

Good news is we conceived the month following the procedure -after 1-year of trying Good Luck!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I went to Washington Radiology. It was so quick it didn't matter if it hurt or not. It was about 1 minute of pinching, like a pap smear. But it was so quick, seriously. Don't sweat it. IM injections make me sweat way worse than an HSG.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a very individual thing. I didn't have any blockages, yet it hurt horribly. I had another friend who got her's done at the same place and she barely felt it. I hope you fall into her catagory and not mine!

[Anonymous]

i thought the endometrial biopsy was WAY worse but after that experience, i too took a valium before the HSG and thought it was nothing. there's a documented increased chance of pregnancy immediately following the hsg so that's an upside to consider while on the table! good luck!

[Anonymous]

I've had it done twice. The first time I had it done I conceived two days later.

I just had it done again by my fertility doc. Both times hurt a bit but its not horrible. It is also very quick, like less than 1 minute, so don't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

i, too, got pregnant immediately following the hsg test and have heard of at least one other person (that i know personally) who also got preg immediately following.

[Anonymous]

Didn't hurt at all. Dr. Sacks did mine at Washington Radiology. And, like PP, I was pregnant the next month!