Your doctor might advise a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) test if you’re having trouble conceiving in order to find out what might be the issue.
Here are some details about the test, including how it works, what happens during and after the procedure, and what the results could indicate.
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What is Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) Test?
Your fallopian tubes and uterus are viewed using an X-ray dye during a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This kind of procedure typically takes less than 5 minutes, and once it is finished, you can go home the same day.
The procedure is likely to be performed after your period but before you ovulate since you’re less likely to become pregnant. This procedure will probably happen during the first half of your cycle, between days 1 and 14.
A blocked fallopian tube prevents sperm or fertilized eggs from reaching the uterus, which makes it impossible to get pregnant. However, having a partially blocked tube could result in an ectopic pregnancy.
When is the Best Time to Do HSG Test?
Doctors frequently suggest the procedure without letting you know when the test would be most beneficial to perform. It is crucial to comprehend the emotional anguish experienced by women who are trying to conceive but are unable to do so, which is why the specialists at the Aastha Fertility clinic carefully pinpoint the ideal time to conduct the test in order to raise the success rate of infertility treatments.
HSG test gives a clear picture of your uterus when performed between day 8 and day 11 of your cycle, as menstruation ends and ovulation begins on day 12. Can HSG Be Performed on the Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Day? Yes, it can be done because this test is generally performed between days 6 and 10 of your menstrual cycle after blood flow stops. This test guarantees that you are not pregnant and that radiation-emitting x-rays used in HSG procedures won’t harm you. If you don’t have periods, you might need to take a pregnancy test.
What Happens During An HSG Test?
A HSG is completed in under five minutes. On the same day as your procedure, you will be able to leave for home.
Your doctor will perform the procedure while an X-ray takes pictures of your uterus and fallopian tubes by injecting a dye-containing solution into them.
Preparing for the Dye Injection
- Your position on the table will be similar to that of someone having a pelvic exam, with your legs extended and your knees bent. Fluoroscopy equipment will be positioned above the table to take x-rays.
- Your healthcare professional will widen your vagina with a device called a speculum so they can access your cervix.
- Your healthcare professional will clean your cervix before inserting a tiny catheter into your uterus and cervical canal. A cannula, a thin plastic tube, may serve as the catheter. Alternatively, your provider might make use of a skinny plastic tube that has a balloon attached to the end of it. As soon as it enters your body, the balloon expands to hold the injection tube in place.
Injecting the Dye
- You will be instructed to straighten your legs flat on the table after your provider removes the speculum.
- While the radiology technician operates the fluoroscopy machine over your pelvic region, your healthcare provider will gradually inject the dye solution into your uterus. At this point, you might start to cramp. If your fallopian tubes are blocked, they may slightly stretch from the pressure.
- Your healthcare professional might move you around to observe how the solution travels through your fallopian tubes.
- If your fallopian tubes are open, the dye ought to leak out and be seen spreading close to your bowel (it will then be absorbed by your body without harm). The dye will not spill if they are blocked.
Your healthcare professional will take the cannula or plastic tube with the balloon out of your body once enough X-ray images have been taken, leaving the speculum out.
What to Expect After An HSG Test?
During the actual test, you’ll likely experience light to moderate cramping. Incontinence or pain in the abdomen can persist for several hours in some women after the test, while it subsides for some within a few minutes.
The fluid used during the procedure will likely flow out of your uterus with some of the discharge having a bloody tint to it, which is also normal. Use a pad to catch the discharge; do not, however, use tampons or engage in sexual activity until your doctor gives the all-clear.
For a few minutes after an HSG test, some women may experience nausea, lightheadedness, or fainting. Take your time and continue lying or sitting until you are more stable if that is the case. If you feel like a glass of water would be beneficial, request one.
The HSG test is a common procedure, and complications are uncommon. But let your doctor know if you experience worsening pain, fever, chills, foul-smelling discharge, heavy bleeding, fainting or vomiting in the days after your test, which could signal an infection or an allergic reaction to the dye.
Conclusion
HSG tests are not particularly exciting and can be a little stressful. However, they frequently serve as a means to an extremely worthwhile end: a healthy pregnancy.
FAQs
Can An HSG Test Clear Blocked Tubes?
Potentially removing minor obstructions, the dye solution can also raise your chance of getting pregnant. To support this theory, more investigation is required.
Does a Hysterosalpingogram Increase the Chance of Pregnancy?
“Tubal flushing” refers to the process of injecting dye into your uterus and fallopian tubes, as with an HSG without X-raying the patient. According to some studies, tubal flushing increases fertility, particularly in the first three to six months after the dye injection. According to research, the presence of an oil-soluble contrast medium in particular in the dye solution increases the likelihood of conception.
