What is HSG test?

genie777

Just went to Ob since we have been trying four cycles now with no luck .. we actually took chance the two months before we actively started TTC so it could even be six cycles technically. The O said since I'm 38 to see a fertility specialist. She said to have an HSG x ray (which after reading about sounds rather risky) not to mention i hate to be exposed to all that radiation. IS it not possible to have a MRI done to check tubes?? IF tubes are blocked can you still have IUI. Of course I forgot to ask these to dr when I was there!  She did do blood work. She tested FSH and AMH.. she said no to progesterone since I have regular periods and signs of Ovulation.. i don't know why she didn't test this still though.. Just not sure if i need to worry yet. she seemed to think i am being impatient and to give it a little more time.  Thoughts?

hooligans4

6 months at our age is all you need to wait before seeing a specialist. So you are right in seeing one.
You need HSG to make sure tubes aren't blocked. They insert a catheter into your ute and push dye in and snap X-rays while dye is going in. Sometimes if you have a little debris in the tubes the dye flushes it.
Doing an IUI before HSG is silly because if tubes are blocked then the egg can't get to your ute and would be a waste of time. No RE would do any treatment before HSG is done.
Have the HSG and make an apt with a RE and they will do all the bloodwork. .

happyktmom

I just had my HSG and it was painful but found my tubes were clear. It's just part of the protocol for the RE because as said before - there's no point in doing further procedures if tubes are blocked.
I also wanted to mention that I'm glad my Dr did all the hormone blood work ge did because I definitely have PCOS but still have regular periods and ovulation signs and positive OPKs.
Good luck on your decision!

kindershlitz

child mentioned-

Totally agree you should do it. It's pretty much standard protocol.  Mine were not terrible.  I have had two (2.5 years apart). The first was just like a pap. As @hooligans4 mentioned, sometimes it's just debris which looks like it was my first time because I conceived the month following the first HSG. The second was much more unpleasant but the pain was actually mostly after the fact for me and good have been helped if I had taken a pain med prior to the procedure. I was given a second one due to having had a c-section. 

 I hear you about the radiation but it's definitely something you want done if you are going to go through an expensive procedure if your tubes are blocked. 

I waited to go to the RE because I kept thinking it would happen (15 months) and I regret not going sooner. So I don't think you are being to hasty at all.   

dolphin012

I had an hsg, too. As everyone mentioned above, it seems like a routine test prior to any treatments. For me it was easy - no pain (they had me on a pretty high dose of ibu leading up to it). Mine was sometime in the first week or two of my cycle. They had us abstain until it was done so there was no chance we would conceive prior to the x-rays. 

I don't think you have  anything to worry about at 38 and only 4 months of trying. But there is nothing wrong with being really proactive and getting the tests done on the sooner side. I started at ttc at 39. We waited 6 months as is typically suggested to see an RE. I wish we had gone sooner.