PP here, who had the tube removed:
My RE sent me back to my GYN to do it. My RE doesn't do the surgery, and said it was better to have GYN who does lots of laps to do it.

Yeah, you have to do it after your period, for best diagnostics.
Also, it's often covered under basic diagnostic care, not fertility treatment. I was billed $600 for an HSG two years ago, I just had to pay my portion of the deductible. It was diagnostic, and therefor covered no matter what.
The HSG showed I had a hydrosalpinx, and I had to have laparoscopic surgery to have the blocked tube removed. That was covered under regular gyno care, although I obviously had to pay the deductible, etc. It didn't count toward my $30,000 fertility lifetime coverage

Op here...I'll find out whether it will be covered under the new plan or not. DH's work is changing fertility coverage and employees have to choose the option currently offered or the new one while they phase out the current option. The new one seems better. I asked the RE office I'll likely be using and they said they'd accept an HSG from the radiology dept (i.e. Wouldn't rerun it). My doctor said its best to do right after my period. I get that because they want to make sure I'm not pregnant, but if it doesn't HAVE to be that week than I'll have a little more flexibility. The center I am guessing I'll choose (haven't consulted yet) has me with a late June apt and that's the first opening.

I'll go against the tide and say just do it now. I had one done under an REs recommendation but they referred me to the radiology dept in the hospital anyway so they did not do it. This is a pretty standard test. Chances are your OB can send the report to the RE and it'll be fine. I doubt you'd have to have it re-done. It's possible but doctors send each other records all the time and rely on tests done by other doctors.

I agree w/ everyone else that it makes sense to do all of your testing (HSG included) w/ the RE that you choose. These docs usually like to manage the tests themselves, see the results for themselves, use the technicians and facilities they have in house, etc...

My RE did the HSG herself, and stood with me and showed me what she was seeing.

Yes, it means a delay in that test, but if you'll be working with an RE anyway then it's not an overall delay in your process. And couldn't you possibly get in sooner with an RE?

Good luck!

Op here again...I forgot to add that the GYN's office clarified. It will be with radiology at the hospital.

Hi all! Op here. Thanks for the tips. My husband's employer is in the process of changing coverage (improving) for infertility BUT it might affect whether a Non-RE HSG is covered. I'll need to double check on Monday. Otherwise, I'm a little bummed out because right now waiting to do it with an RE would mean doing it in July or (because I'm away in August) Sept. To those who suggested waiting for RE, would you suggest it even if that means a delay? I might not have a choice in the matter, but trying to inform myself. Thanks!

I had a blocked tube, a hydrosalpinx, and it was not painful at all. Mildly uncomfortable, but mostly just because of the hard table I was on.
I had it done via Columbia Fertility; one of their doctors did it at Washington Radiology. I've heard that the radiologists who do them regularly at WRA are good, too.

What was painful? Learning that everything was going to be harder because of that blocked tube.

Anonymous wrote:I would wait until you see a RE too. My RE told me I can get HSG at any radiology center but she preferred I do it with the RE's clinic because they know exactly what they are looking for.

btw my HSG was painless. I heard it's bad if you have a blocked tube.

I had two and a uterus obscured 90% by scar tissues. It was horrifically painful. But of course you don't know what you're going to uncover beforehand.

Anonymous wrote:I would wait until you have testing with an RE. The HSG is painful, and I would not want you to go through and end up having to do it again if the RE doesn't trust the GYN's findings.

And yes, I'd say you are better off with the RE for any testing and treatment.

+1

I know a lot of women say it doesn't hurt, but mine was so painful. It literally felt like labor contractions (and I know, b/c I've experienced them). It is SO sudden an reduced me to tears. I did two and both were horrible. I wouldn't want to have the procedure any more often than absolutely necessary.

Plus, and I'm sorry, OBs/GYNs are utterly useless when it comes to this stuff. The REs know what they are doing.

Mine was painless, but I would want to get it done somewhere where they do a lot of them, like Shady Grove or another fertility clinic. And yes, the RE might want you to redo it later.

My HSG was also painless.

I would wait until you see a RE too. My RE told me I can get HSG at any radiology center but she preferred I do it with the RE's clinic because they know exactly what they are looking for.

btw my HSG was painless. I heard it's bad if you have a blocked tube.

I would wait until you have testing with an RE. The HSG is painful, and I would not want you to go through and end up having to do it again if the RE doesn't trust the GYN's findings.

And yes, I'd say you are better off with the RE for any testing and treatment.

Hi all, I have an HSG scheduled for next week with my gyn. I have consults scheduled with two (so I can pick one of needed) REs in the late June / early July timeframe. Should I proceed with HSG with my gyn or see if a RE clinic can fit me in sooner so I can have them do this procedure? Any thoughts on how much of a specialist someone should be for this? Thanks!