Is a hysterosalpingogram painful? Mild pain or discomfort is common with an HSG, both during the procedure and afterward. You may feel cramping when your provider inserts the dye solution into your uterus. You may experience more cramping when your tubes are blocked.

One theory is that the dye flushes out the fallopian tubes, clearing minor blocks in some women. (Though HSG cannot repair or open the serious blockages.) If this is the case, the HSG test result will show unblocked fallopian tubes. However, some contrast may seem to stop and then continue on the x-ray.

Studies have shown that there is up to 30% increased pregnancy rates for the first 3 months after an HSG for couples with unexplained infertility. It is presumed that the dye itself flushes out debris (also known as “tubal goo”) and if that was all that was preventing pregnancy, you conceive within 3 months.

An HSG usually causes mild or moderate uterine cramping for about 5-10 minutes. However, some women may experience cramps for several hours. These symptoms can be greatly reduced by taking medications used for menstrual cramps before the procedure or when they occur.

The majority of women regard a hysterosalpingogram as acutely painful because it involves placement of a cervical tenaculum, traction on the cervix, instillation of dye through a cervical cannula and tubal spilling (10).

How soon after HSG can you start trying to conceive? You'll want to follow your doctor's instructions, but generally, it's safe to try within several days. While HSG can boost your chances of conceiving, it's important to remember that the primary purpose is to serve as a diagnostic test.

The HSG checks on whether or not your fallopian tubes are open. It may also give some information on the shape of the inside of your womb. How long will the examination take? The examination will take about 30 minutes.