Dr. M told me to schedule an HSG as soon as my period started so that we could have the test performed as soon as my period ended. This test would tell us if my fallopian tubes were blocked.
The procedure had to be performed at the hospital because we needed to use the X-ray equipment. He said that this was an outpatient procedure that would be uncomfortable but not painful enough to require prescription medication. He said that pain was actually a “good” sign because the procedure would be less painful if the tube was blocked.
I do not usually go into procedures hoping for pain, but I was hoping for good results this time. So far, we had not really “passed” any of the tests we had been given.
I took the day off work, and my sister came along with me in case I did not feel up to driving myself home. While the doctor had given me no instructions for pain relief, the nurse pulled me aside and told me to take 4 Advils an hour before the procedure. Bless that woman!
The room where the procedure was performed was spooky. I felt like I had walked into an episode of The X-Files. It was dark with all sorts of machines surrounding a bed with stirrups – not the most inviting atmosphere that I have ever seen.
The doctor inserted a catheter into my cervix and squeezed dye through it. I watched the monitor as the dye moved up my cervix and through my fallopian tubes. I was relieved to see the dye moving through my body. We finally “passed” a test – hooray!
While this was not a comfortable experience, it was not as painful as I had feared. However, I have talked to several women who have had the same test performed, and they tell me that I am crazy: They say that this test was painful for them. So, be sure to take something for your pain before undergoing this procedure.
I felt up to driving myself home, and I enjoyed getting the rest of the day off to hang out with my sister. I was feeling optimistic. My tubes were not blocked, and my husband’s sperm count, although low, was high enough to get the job done. I was certain that the first intrauterine insemination (IUI) would do the trick.
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