Doctor Wants Me to Go on Birth Control Before Getting HSG Test???

I am thinking that they want to essentially force a cycle right after testing as when they do a hsg it tends to be the most optimal month if you happen to either have had scar tissue that was blown by the dye or have increasing scar tissue. This will mean it will give you the most optimal opening for a pregnancy to take place

Are they wanting to put you on Prometrium? Are you typically regular? It is commonly used during fertility issues. Prometrium will help build up the lining of the uterus (and also in the tubes if the endometrium has grown in there, thus possibly blocking the tubes). After ten days, you usually stop taking the Prometrium (withdrawal) and a period starts shortly thereafter. You will have a 'defined' period where they can do a day 3 blood draw, perform glucose tolerance tests and other blood levels like FSH. Prometrium is COMMONLY used in fertility workup.

If you don't mind me asking, since you're in Chicago which fertility doctor are you seeing? I've seen two - one was horrible and the other was absolutely outstanding. Is this your first time with a fertility specialist? You may want to try and keep an open mind as far as what they want you to do because this is their line of expertise. You want a baby - they can help. It might be your hormones that are preventing you from conceiving/carrying a child and perhaps they need adjusting to make pregnancy a possibility? Also, pills have changed dramatically in the last 18 years. The doses are lower than ever and likely different from what you experienced.

Ask lots of questions. Make sure you're working with an RE who will explain everything to you - and if they want to jump straight to IVF at least have them tell you why they ruled out other less complicated attempts. Unless you're paying out of pocket for this, I'd be very surprised if your insurance would even allow you to jump straight to IVF without trying more conventional, conservative routes. I know my insurance required typically two failures at each 'fertility level' before I got bumped up to the next level.

Finally, if you are really set on continuing doing things the natural way two great resources are Toni Weschler's Taking Charge of Your Fertility book and the www.fertilityfriend.com website. Both are full of helpful information regarding conceiving.

Best wishes to you!

Imo, if you don't like the idea of anybody messing with your hormones you probably won't be comfortable with fertility treatment at all.

Ask for a new recommendation from your doctor, trust your instinct.

Hi S.,
I was 40 when I tried to concieve my second child. It took us a year and I had 2 mc's (one a blighted ovum and one was a chemical pregnancy) during this time. I also had to do the day 3 FSH, husband tested and the HSG which I was not required or told that I had to go on birth control before I had it done. I went to two fertility docs (one at Northwestern and one at FCI who told me donar eggs were my only option). I pursued a woman doc out of Rush who after listening to my history put me on prometrium (which is a progesterone) 3 days after I ovulated. I got pregnant that month and now have a healthy baby boy. Supposedly having a low progesterone leval causes miscarriages especially in women "our age". Mariah Carey claims that is how she got pregnant. My advise is to get your progesterone levels checked and make sure you see a doc that you are comfortable with and trust. If I had listened to the other 2 docs I wouldn't have my beautiful son. Good Luck!! And if you'd like to talk further please email me - I would be happy to answer any further questions.

I didn't have to be on birth control when I got this test. Perhaps they are concerned that an x-ray would hurt a developing fetus if you happened to be pregnant. If that was the case, though, why wouldn't they just give you a pregnancy test. Duh.

I went on the pill before IVF, but not during the pre-testing. But I agree, if you don’t want to mess with your hormones, then don’t start fertility treatments. I know women that had a terrible time with the hormone injections (IUI & IVF) – but for some, like me, if you want a baby, this is what you have to do.

I had a few miscarriages in my late 30s and found it was genetic relate. I ended up going through IVF twice (successful pregnancy both times) but had genetic testing“PGD” before implanting. You can read about PGD here… http://www.fertility-docs.com/PGD.phtml

If you’re not comfortable with your doctor then get a second opinion. I had a GREAT doctor (Kaplan / http://www.fcionline.com/ ). I’m 42 with two kids, 3 year and 1 year old. I would move fast whatever you decide to do… it’s not going to get any easier!

http://simone-perseverance.blogspot.com/p/napro-faq.html

NaPro Technology is a natural approach to infertility issues and has a higher success rate than IVF. I recently heard about this on the radio on the Catholic station on Sirius Radio. Pretty interesting stuff. I've never dealt with infertility but this is the route I would choose if I did. I too however have been offered the pill on numerous occasions and it's just something I really don't care to do unless there was a true medical need for it.

Google Napro Infertility and read about it. I found a blog that you can copy and paste into your web browser.

Good luck to you!

I had an HSG done and did not have to get on the pill prior to having it done. A co-worker had it done too- I'll ask her today and send you a msg. I know each doctor has their own methods but if you've found no literature regarding getting on the pill before having an HSG then definitely question it and trust your instincts. Go to a different specialists if that's the case.

If you

I didn't have any birth control while getting the hsg test. Haven't heard of that either. I have heard of going to birth control for about 2 months and then getting off to try to concieve. It worked for a co-worker of my husbands. It kind of resets you I guess. I would ask them why this needs to be done.

Are you at FCI? I was there for a year...went through IVF three times plus one FET and never got pregnant. I have a 2 1/2 yr old conceived naturally...FCI never did any testing on me besides day 3 and I have an elevated FSH so they sent me right to IVF. After all of my failed treatments I finally woke up and started doing some research on my own (sounds stupid to have waited so long but since I had a baby I thought IVF would work). I have since switched drs who did a bunch of other testing on both me and my husband...I did the HSG test and did not go on birth control before it.
What I found with FCI (if that's where you are) is that they do certain procedures on certain days and if it isn't the right time in your cycle then they force it to be the right time...i.e. birth control...they control what your body does rather than letting it do its thing so that it fits their schedule (its a factory for IVF). If you don't want to go on it then tell them you want to wait for your next cycle and do it then...I think its usually done between day 5-10 of your cycle. You should be able to decide.

I know some people recommended books...I found Making Babies and The Infertitliy Cure really helpful. Making Babies has a checklist of tests and questions you should be asked by your RE before IVF is even on the table. At FCI they never asked me any of them...my new dr has asked all of them and run all of the testing on me. I have since found out that one of my tubes is blocked...common after having a c-section. I'm having surgery next month to clear it and check out the other one to see what's happening...otherwise all of my tests have come back negative. My new dr doesn't put much emphasis on fsh levels deterimining pregnancy.

My advice is be informed, don't accept what your dr says based on his/her reputation (what i did, i was with kaplan), ask questions and don't do anything you don't want to do.

Good luck to you!!

I don't know anything about it really, but can relate to what taking the pill felt like and your feelings about it. Now I have a question for you. Isn't there someone else you could go to or call for another opinion? That doesn't sound right to me. If it's cost, I am sure there are outside sources the state could recommend or even pay a few dollars and discuss it with a nurse practioner at a Walgreens or CVS who could possibly recommend you else where. Maybe I'm way off base but this only makes sense if you are not planning on having more children. At least the way it was worded...

I'm so sorry about your miscarriages. I know first hand how heartbreaking they are.
I went to a fertility specialist for recurrent miscarriages and was tested feverything you mentioned. I never had to go on the pill though.
Best of luck to you.

You may want to discuss with them further what you want vs. what they tend to do as a service. You may be getting tests that aren't going to do much for you if they are only going towards an IVF plan that you don't want.
You could also try other methods, like acupuncture, to see if that helps you if the other methods don't appeal and/or the tests are inconclusive.
best to you.