What does an HSG test, and what's it like?
The short answer
An X-ray with dye that shows whether your fallopian tubes are open and whether the uterine cavity looks normal. Checking the tubes is standard in a complete workup.
What to know
- It's done in the first half of the cycle, after your period and before ovulation.
- Cramping is common and usually brief. Ask what to take beforehand.
- A saline sonogram is more sensitive for polyps and fibroids but doesn't test the tubes.
- One tube blocked is a different situation from both — ask which you have.
- Some people conceive in the months after an HSG; that evidence is real but modest.
What you can do now
- Take a pregnancy test first. If there's any chance you're pregnant.
- Ask what to take for cramping beforehand. It's usually brief.
- Ask what happens if a tube is blocked. One blocked tube is a different situation from two.
Read the full explanation
Whether your fallopian tubes are open, and what the inside of the uterus looks like.
How it works
A hysterosalpingogram is an X-ray. A small catheter is placed through the cervix and a contrast dye is pushed gently into the uterus. If the tubes are open, the dye flows through and spills out the ends; if one or both are blocked, it stops. The images also outline the uterine cavity. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes and is usually done in the first half of the cycle, after your period and before ovulation.
What it feels like
Cramping, sometimes strong, for a few minutes. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever beforehand is commonly suggested; ask your clinic.
Alternatives
A saline sonogram (sonohysterogram) uses ultrasound and saline to look at the uterine cavity and is more sensitive for polyps and fibroids; some versions with contrast (HyCoSy) also check the tubes. Your doctor may use one or both.
Why it matters
If both tubes are blocked, the plan changes: IUI can't work, and IVF bypasses the tubes. With one open tube, IUI may still be an option — ask. Guidelines include tubal evaluation in the standard workup, and it should generally happen before treatment is chosen.
What the research shows
Not rated, deliberately. This page explains how something works rather than claiming a treatment helps, so a rating would mean nothing. Everything traces to the sources below.
Questions for your doctor
Edit any of these before you add it — they're yours. Your list stays in this browser, and you can print a one-page sheet from it.
- What did the tubal test actually show, and does it change the plan?
- What can I take beforehand, and what should I expect afterwards?