After scouring Reddit for weeks leading up to my HSG, I read all of the posts about the excruciating pain. I think it is SO important to make sure you have a compassionate and understanding doctor.
First off, she prescribed me Xanax beforehand which definitely helped. She also gave me some speculums before hand to practice, so I spent a week or so doing that. She let me put the speculum in myself, which was huge for me.
Once the speculum was in, it was uncomfortable, but not painful. She cleaned the cervix and that also didn’t feel like much. I could not feel the catheter go in at all.
When she injected the dye, it felt like strong period cramps (which luckily I don’t have, so it maybe felt a little worse for me). But it was over SO quick! Once she took the speculum and catheter out, there was no more pain.
I was so scared that this would be a failure. But you can do it! I’ve been dilating for weeks and I think that really helped. You may even be ask to take home to speculums to practice with. I did cry during and after, but it was more relief that it was over.
Overall, I’d say the dye going in was the most painful part, and maybe a 5/10. I did not have any blockages so this might have contributed to it. Everyone’s experience is different but I’m here to give you encouragement that you can do it!!!!