What is a hysterosalpingogram?
HSG is a process whereby X-rays are used to view inside the uterus and the fallopian tubes. It is often done to check if one or both of the fallopian tubes may be totally or partially blocked. It is also used to determine whether the inside of the uterus is of typical size and shape.
When is a hysterosalpingogram performed?
Your doctor will schedule your procedure between the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle after your last period has ended but before you ovulate. Scheduling on this date will lessen your chances of being pregnant or menstruating during the surgery.
Who shouldn’t ge hysterosalpingogram?
If you have a pelvic infection or are pregnant, you should not undergo an HSG.
When would a hysterosalpingogram be needed?
HSG will help in the diagnosis of fertility by determining whether fallopian tubes are obstructed or patent. The patent tubes allow for conception, fertilization, and development of the egg, while the obstructed tubes lead to infertility.
Additionally, an HSG can allow your provider to:
- Success of a tubal ligation or tubal reversal: HSG will confirm the successful closure of the fallopian tubes during the tubal ligation procedure and its successful reverse.
- Further imaging: HSG outlines uterine abnormalities, which may be further imaged with sonohysterography and hysteroscopy for a final diagnosis and treatment of specific uterine conditions.
These days, a hysterosalpingogram is just used to check if the tubes are open; other, more thorough, and less complex procedures can be performed to examine the uterus.
Who performs a hysterosalpingogram?
A reproductive endocrinologist, radiologist or gynaecologist can perform an HSG. A radiologist examining your X-rays will write a report detailing his interpretation and send this report to your physician.
How does the procedure work?
In an HSG, dye material is introduced into your fallopian tubes and uterus. The dye enables your fallopian tubes and uterus to appear as an outline on an X-ray. If the X-ray shows that the dye is travelling down your fallopian tubes, then your fallopian tubes are open. If the dye encounters something in its path that stops it from passing, then your fallopian tubes are blocked.
What to expect before a hysterosalpingogram?
Your doctor will check your medical history to see if HSG suits you. If you have been tracking your levels, your physician may check the results of your luteinizing hormone test to confirm you are not pregnant. The healthcare professional will also determine which part of the dye solution you may be allergic to before the HSG.
You and your provider will discuss any possible risks. HSG has little risk.
How do I prepare for a hysterosalpingogram?
To prepare for your procedure, follow your provider’s instructions. Your supplier may ask you to:
- Take over-the-counter pain medicine one hour before your procedure.
- Use antibiotics before to prevent infection.
Plan a ride home following your HSG. You might be able to drive yourself home, but you could be experiencing cramps that will make driving difficult. It is always best to have help available if something doesn’t go as planned.
What to expect during a hysterosalpingogram?
An HSG takes less than five minutes. You can go back home the same day of your operation.
During the procedure, an X-ray takes pictures as your doctor pumps a fluid containing a harmless dye into your fallopian tubes and uterus.
Preparing for the dye injection:
- The patient will be positioned on a table with their knees flexed and legs apart, while the fluoroscopy machine will be positioned above the table to perform the X-ray examination.
- A speculum is inserted into the vagina by a healthcare provider to dilate it and allow access to the cervix.
- A provider cleans the cervix and inserts a catheter cannula or balloon-inflated tube- into the uterus to inject the dye into the uterus in preparation for taking pictures of the uterine cavity.
Injecting dye:
- The provider will remove the speculum and ask that you straighten your legs flat on the table.
- The provider administers dye solution into the uterus while the radiology technician uses the fluoroscopy machine.
- Your provider may position you in various ways to better observe the movement of solution through your fallopian tubes.
- If the tubes are open, the dye spills out and spreads to the bowel. If the tube is blocked, the body does not absorb the dye.
After sufficient X-ray pictures are taken, the provider will remove the cannula or plastic tube with the balloon from your body without reinserting the speculum.
Is a hysterosalpingogram painful?
Having mild pain or discomfort during and after the HSG procedure is normal. Once your healthcare professional begins introducing the solution of the dye into your uterus, you will experience some cramping since it can irritate the lining of the uterus. More discomfort or cramping may result if there is a blockage in your tubes.
The cramping can persist for several hours or up to five minutes after your surgery. It can be either mild or moderate in nature. An over-the-counter NSAID can relieve your cramps.
What to expect after the test?
You might have to wear a pad after the test to absorb any dye solution that leaks from your vagina. A small amount of blood, often mixed with the sticky discharge, is common. You can also have other side effects, such as:
- Cramping
- Lightheadedness.
- Nausea or an upset stomach.
- Mild vaginal bleeding for one or two days.
You can return to your normal activities immediately after your HSG or when you feel like doing it.
What are the risks of this test?
Although an HSG uses minimal radiation to take X-ray pictures, it does use some. They don’t believe an HSG is harmful, but some rarely occurring complications might include:
- Infection
- Uterine damage
- An allergic reaction to the dye solution
What kind of results do you get, and how do the results feel?
Your provider will discuss your test results and inform you about your next steps. Suppose the HSG shows that your tubes are blocked. In that case, your provider may suggest additional treatments that can help further locate the problem and treat it-such as laparoscopy-for infertility treatments that bypass the need for your tubes to be open, such as in vitro fertilization.
When should I call my doctor?
If you experience fever, chills, burning, vomiting, heavy vaginal bleeding, foul-smelling discharge, or severe abdominal cramping, contact your provider immediately.
Why Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center for Hysterosalphingogram (HSG) Test in Lucknow, India?
Tender Palm IVF & Fertility Center offers expert Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) test in Lucknow, India using safe, advanced imaging techniques. Our experienced team ensures accurate evaluation of fallopian tube blockages and uterine abnormalities. We provide a comfortable and supportive environment, helping couples take the right step toward effective infertility treatment.