HSG - location, cost, other info?

[Anonymous]

My OB ordered an HSG. Anyone had one at Fairfax Radiology? I have read that people seem to get them at their RE's office? Does it make a difference? Also, any experience with whether insurance will cover it? OB said he'd "try" to get it covered and that it would be several hundred if not covered but I've seen costs of like $1500??? Any other information I should have going into it?

[Anonymous]

Cost is totally going to depend on your insurance.

Mine was covered with a $150 copay (and I have awesome insurance).

You may also get a Rx for antibiotics.

[Anonymous]

I had one at GW (done by a radiologist; uncomfortable but not painful) and it was covered by my Fed BCBS plan.

[Anonymous]

^^ I did have some co-pay, but it was nothing nuts. In the $100 range?

[Anonymous]

OP - look at your insurance policy. Does it cover diagnosis of IF? If yes, then your HSG should be covered with a copay. If no, then it likely will not be covered unless your OB codes it differently.

Also, just a word of advice - if you are at this point, you really should go see an RE rather than rely on your OB. OBs are there to help you while you are pregnant and deliver your baby, they really know next to nothing about how to get you pregnant, and an RE is likely going to make you repeat the HSG.

[Anonymous]

I've only ever had one at Shady Grove's surgical center in Rockville, and it was not painful at all. I did take Advil beforehand, which helped.

My insurance initially rejected it because my policy has a specific exclusion for infertility, but my doctor changed some billing codes because he had ordered it for PCOS, and it was covered completely.

If you want to know for sure about the cost, ask your OB what CPT code he or she will use to bill it and call your insurance company.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks all. I have endo and OB said he'd use that code on it so hopefully it should be covered but I will call insurance. Anyone need a ride home afterward? Receptionist at OB's office said they may tell me that at the radiology department but I am planning to just go myself and drive myself home. Any reason why I shouldn't?

To the PP who wrote about seeing an RE - thanks for the tip. I wondered about this. OB said he plans to do HSG, an ultrasound and blood work to confirm ovulation (on appropriate days in my cycle), and blood work to look at hormone levels and ovarian reserve. Is there anything else I'd be getting from an RE at this point? I am not opposed to seeing an RE, but if I can get the initial testing done with my OB - who I already have a relationship with - plus maybe get it covered by insurance (since it's an OB visit not a fertility visit), it seems like I should stick with him at least until we're through this phase of testing. But perhaps that's naïve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all. I have endo and OB said he'd use that code on it so hopefully it should be covered but I will call insurance. Anyone need a ride home afterward? Receptionist at OB's office said they may tell me that at the radiology department but I am planning to just go myself and drive myself home. Any reason why I shouldn't?

To the PP who wrote about seeing an RE - thanks for the tip. I wondered about this. OB said he plans to do HSG, an ultrasound and blood work to confirm ovulation (on appropriate days in my cycle), and blood work to look at hormone levels and ovarian reserve. Is there anything else I'd be getting from an RE at this point? I am not opposed to seeing an RE, but if I can get the initial testing done with my OB - who I already have a relationship with - plus maybe get it covered by insurance (since it's an OB visit not a fertility visit), it seems like I should stick with him at least until we're through this phase of testing. But perhaps that's naïve?

PP who mentioned the RE. I also have endo and have dealt with endo-related IF twice. First time I saw an endometriosis specialist who did an HSG and ultimately a laparscopy - I got pregnant pretty quickly thereafter. Second time, I ended up seeing an RE because there was nothing my specialist could "see" that was causing problems (first time both my tubes were blocked and I had a lot of scar tissue). I had a successful IUI.

If you are having trouble and the HSG shows your tubes are open, I HIGHLY recommend seeing an acupuncturist (insurance covered mine) - endo can really screw up your lining and acupuncture can clear things out and give your body a reset. I completely credit acupuncture for my IUI success.

[Anonymous]

Just make sure that whoever does it has a lot of experience doing it. I have heard that it can be very painful otherwise. Just like an amnio -- the procedure is fine as long as you have an experienced practitioner, not someone who does them occasionally. (This might be another reason to have it done with an RE because they do these a lot.)

I had it done with Shady Grove (RE) and it was not that bad, even when they had to send a balloon through a tube because the dye or whatever wasn't flowing properly. I took an advil afterwards. No problem driving. I did rest in the waiting room for 15 minutes afterwards to be on the safe side. I had a fair amount of cramping and spotting for a day or two afterwards, which is not uncommon. Nothing worse than a typical period though.

[Anonymous]

I don't live in area anymore, but I took 800 mg Advil an hour before on my doctor's advice and antibiotics. I had a copay for the antibiotics but I think paid nothing (maybe $35 copay) for HSG. It took WAY longer for them to explain procedure and prep than the actual procedure took. I did it at hospital and the radiologist did it. When he inflated the balloon it felt like moderate period cramps for a moment and otherwise didn't hurt. I didn't have blockages and I've given birth before and both can help I think. I had scheduled two RE / IVF consults and both said they'd accept the HSG results ordered by my OB's office (i.e. I wouldn't have to redo) and, in fact, were happy I'd gotten that far in testing. I walked out of the office and hailed a cab totally comfortably. Although no blockages showed up, after trying for 14 or 15 months I conceived 10 days after HSG and didn't need IVF afterall.

[Anonymous]

Pp here - where I did HSG required a negative blood (beta) pregnancy test a week before and then abstaining from unprotected sex between the date of the test and the HSG date.