Sorry you're anxious, OP - it's a bit uncomfortable (especially if you haven't been down the infertility road yet and you aren't used to having a million random people looking at / sticking things in your hoohoo), but it's over quick. I also had some wonderful nurses at VHC who really helped to keep me calm and distracted. I was in a ton of achey pain the next day, though - I felt like I'd been in a street fight. So some Advil before or after is probably not a bad idea.

It probably wouldn't phase me to do it again, now that I'm used to every male doctor in N. Arlington exploring this most popular medical port of entry.

OP, no need to be terrified. It does hurt but it's like less than 30 seconds. For me it was a bunch of really hard, tight cramps all of a sudden, all at once, but then it was over just as quick. I didn't take a thing and drove myself close to an hour home. I do agree with some of the other posters- if you are pursuing fertility treatments, this is going to be step #1 in a long list of things you'll have to endure. And when you said that pregnancy wouldn't bother you as it's a natural process, that's true, but to get to that point undergoing fertility treatments, you're going to have a lot of foreign objects up in your vagina. In the last week alone, I had a saline sonogram (speculum and catheter inside you and they squirt saline in) AND a hystersoscopy (speculum, catheter, camera!). Since this is the first thing you're going through, I understand it's a huge deal to you and you're scared. But take a deep breath and prepare for all the stuff that's in front of you, because there's going to be a lot of invasive procedures, foreign objects, and all matter of things way up inside you. It sucks. You'll be fine, just breathe! Hang in there.

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I'm starting the infertility workup process because of secondary infertility and this test is the next thing I have to do but I am going to decline. You can decline medical procedures.

Of course it's voluntary, and you can decline, but unless you are doing IVF, no RE will work with you without seeing if your tubes are blocked.

OP is right, there are risks. Though rare, it's possible HSG could cause an infection in the uterus/fallopian tubes or an injury to the uterus, such as perforation. I would exactly pooh pooh that.

http://www.healthline.com/health/hysterosalpingography#Risks6

I think some posters are being way too harsh on OP. OP, Ihate Pap smears too. I am small and that metal thing they use absolutely kills me. For me a Pap smear is worse than anything I went through for IVF or childbirth. So do not fret. For me the HSG was a breeze compared to a Pap smear. I will warn you that they do use the metal thing for the IVF transfer so if you go that route you will not be able to avoid it. I think the fertility doctors are a lot more gentle with it than Obgyns though so it isn't nearly as bad.

Anonymous wrote:This is one thing you'll just have to deal with and get over. I don't mean to be cold hearted, but with any fertility treatment or pregnancy, people are going to be all up in your junk all the time -- sometimes with random instruments. I have no more modesty!

Ask for Xanax or something to help you, if needed. I also take Advil prior to anything I anticipate as possibly being uncomfortable; it doesn't do a thing, I'm sure, but soothes my nerves because I feel less helpless. (And, really, with IVF I have had virtually no discomfort.)

+1. I've lost count of the number of medical professionals who've been elbow-deep in my vagina at this point. You have to check your shame at the door.

Anonymous wrote:This is the OP. I'm not sure I want to do IVF or IUI, we might end up pursuing adoption if we get to that. I understand that this might not be a big deal for someone who has been dealing with Infertility for a while but I am just getting diagnosed and suffer from panic attacks so a little understanding would be appreciated!

Thinking of you. If it helps, this is how I feel about getting mammograms, so I definitely empathize with you on the panicky feeling. For whatever the reason, I am not bothered (or not anymore) about gynecological exams or procedures. I've had 3 rounds of IVF and now have 2 kids, so have been through it all. This exam isn't a big deal, but I agree that some kind of med to calm you would be a good idea. There's a build up over time in terms of the procedures you have to have if you end up pursuing fertility treatments...I would have never imagines being able to give myself injections or any of the sort but I made it though and looking back on it, I would definitely do it all again to get my kids. You'll be amazed what you can do when you are determined. Good luck!

This is one thing you'll just have to deal with and get over. I don't mean to be cold hearted, but with any fertility treatment or pregnancy, people are going to be all up in your junk all the time -- sometimes with random instruments. I have no more modesty!

Ask for Xanax or something to help you, if needed. I also take Advil prior to anything I anticipate as possibly being uncomfortable; it doesn't do a thing, I'm sure, but soothes my nerves because I feel less helpless. (And, really, with IVF I have had virtually no discomfort.)

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. I'm starting the infertility workup process because of secondary infertility and this test is the next thing I have to do but I am going to decline. You can decline medical procedures.

Of course you can decline medical procedures. In the case of this procedure, then your doctor can't make informed decisions on how to treat you and will possibly be wasting your time and money as you try to get pregnant. If you have blocked tubes, you could do IUIs all day long and they won't ever work. And do you really want to skip IUIs, which are way cheaper and less invasive than IVF?

My dr recommend this procedure so I scheduled it and had it done without doing any online searches for people's personal experience. It was absolutely not a big deal at all and not painful. You'll be fine, but if this is really causing a lot of anxiety I really think you need meds

Why are you going to decline?

New poster here. I'm starting the infertility workup process because of secondary infertility and this test is the next thing I have to do but I am going to decline. You can decline medical procedures.

Well, I am a person diagnosed with Vaginismus, so I do experience a LOT of pain during pelvic exams. My HSG was done under sedation to help with my condition. I had very light cramping after the procedure, nothing unbearable. So, if this is something that you cannot handle, talk to your obgyn and radiologist.

^^This is the previous poster. Also, I got pregnant a week after my HSG, after being told I could never get pregnant again!

Try not to worry. I had one about six weeks ago, and it wasn't bad. I'd recommend against reading too much about it online. I read a bunch of horror stories which freaked me out. I did have some cramping when the dye went in, but it wasn't worse than period cramps, and it was over very quickly (maybe lasted for 30 seconds or so?). I took three ibuprofen about an hour before the HSG. And the whole procedure was over very quickly--maybe five minutes from start to finish. Best of luck!