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[hiddendragon]

First, I want to thank everyone here who have provided good advices for me so far.  If you've been reading, you'll recall that I've posted about my experiences with infertility more than once here.  Following some of you advices, I've gotten more aggressive last fall and went to seek out a reproductive specialist.  I've had four IUI, all negative.  After this last one, my specialist wants me to go back and have another HSG.  My Ob-gyn had already ordered one and ruled out the physical elements, but that was two years ago.  Right now, I feel like this doctor is sending me in circles because he wants me to go and do another one.  I feel that since the physical issue (blocked tubes, etc.) had already been ruled out by my first HSG, going back to the slab to do another HSG is just a waste of my time and money.  Not to mention that this is a very invasive procedure that has risks of infection and other things, which could do me more harm than good.  Doing it twice is not appealing to me.

I would like the opinions of others of you who have experienced infertility.  Do you think it's right of me to feel that this doctor is making me run in circles and should I seek a different doctor?  Moreover, would a second doctor also order another HSG?  Is this normal procedure?  Have others of you been ordered more than one HSG, and what are your experiences with it?  I am deeply conflicted.  Any opinion on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

[niceday]

Sorry to hear about your IUI results. Here's what I do know and what a friend of mine who tried IUI was advised: if IUI does not work after three, at most four tries, go for IVF. Most IUI that does work will work the first few times. I guess this advice might be modified if your IUI cycles were somehow not as aggressive as possible (use of injectables; no attempt at detection of ovulation, etc).

IUI unfortunately does not work for everyone and a lot of people find success with IVF even though IUI did not work for them. On the other hand, IVF is a lot more invasive, expensive and taxing. Of course, I don't know whether HSG needs to be repeated if it was not recent; I'm merely telling you what my friend and I found out when she was going through IUI. Good luck.

[hiddendragon]

Thanks for replying.  I have not decided, but I now feel like I'm going in circles.  IVF sounds like the next logical option to me because from talking to others, it would seem that their infertility was diagnosed finally during the IVF stage and could be corrected then.  I'll have to think about this hard because I'm teaching new courses and I don't know if I can take the stress of teaching with the intensiveness required of IVF.

[quote author=niceday
IUI unfortunately does not work for everyone and a lot of people find success with IVF even though IUI did not work for them. On the other hand, IVF is a lot more invasive, expensive and taxing. Of course, I don't know whether HSG needs to be repeated if it was not recent; I'm merely telling you what my friend and I found out when she was going through IUI. Good luck.
[/quote]

[cms99]

Refresh me.  What's the HSG test?

[hiddendragon]

It's a procedure where they pump your uterus with liquid and inject dye into the fallopian tubes to check and see if there's blockages--very painful for several minutes.  The full word is hysterosalpingpogram or something long like that.  I can't even pronounce it.

Refresh me.  What's the HSG test?

[cms99]

ah, the hysteiopeniogram (sp).  They tried one on my wife, but couldn't do it, and tried a second one and it worked.  Nothing blocked.  If you've had one done, and were clear, I wouldn't do another one unless there was a reason to suspect blocked tubes (ectopic pregnancy etc).  HOwever, I'm not an RE, (although I could play one on TV), so I'd go with the doctor's recommendation.

[lemonbar]

I don't think your doctor is running you in circles. It is very common for them to order more than one HSG, especially if the previous HSG was several years in the past. Tubes may clog over time. Just because your first HSG was clear does not mean this HSG will be clear. Blocked tubes could certainly be the reason for you not conceiving at this point. It seems wise to at least check out your tubes before moving onto IVF, which is way more invasive and expensive than an IUI.

[hiddendragon]

Thanks for sharing your opinion.  I was devastated after every IUI and was almost on the verge of just quitting and accepting what nature brings, but I also know I will regret it deeply if I don't exhaust all my options.  In a few years I'll be over 40 and it may be too late (or even later).  This agony actually reminds me a lot of graduate school--especially the desire to just quit and end the suffering.  And, like graduate school, I weighed all my options and decided I would regret quitting now.  So, yes, I did schedule another HSG and will see what happens from there.  But I'll explore all my options instead of wallowing in negativity (which I do for several days after each failed attempt).  Thanks for your support.

I don't think your doctor is running you in circles. It is very common for them to order more than one HSG, especially if the previous HSG was several years in the past. Tubes may clog over time. Just because your first HSG was clear does not mean this HSG will be clear. Blocked tubes could certainly be the reason for you not conceiving at this point. It seems wise to at least check out your tubes before moving onto IVF, which is way more invasive and expensive than an IUI.

[wiley]

My wife and I did 2 IUI's with one doctor who ordered an HSG. When we went to another doctor to try IVF (which we're trying now, he ordered another HSG (which he did himself, instead of farming out to a lab like the previous doctor). The new doctor said it would be a good 'dry run'-kind of thing that would let him get used to my wife's situation before the IVF.

If I were you, I'd ask for the reason for the repeat HSG. Also, I have more hope for IVF than more IUI's.

Good luck to you.

[lemonbar]

Believe me, I understand why you'd want to avoid another HSG. Mine was extremely painful, and frankly, when my specialist told me that he thought I should have another one this past summer I refused. But I am older than you, and my hormonal levels indicate I have 0% chance of being able to conceive at this point. I saw no reason to do another HSG, and (essentially) gave up on trying to have another baby.

But if you are still in your late 30s, I think it is a wise idea. It may be why the IUIs failed. However, if the HSG shows that your tubes are clear, then perhaps IVF is the route for you. Good luck to you, and let us know how it goes.