Hi Sarah, No words of advice really, but I have to say I understand your frustration. We tried to conceive for a couple of years, had not luck, and decided against fertility treatment. My HSG test came back open after two abdominal surgeries at that time. The stress of trying was brutal and everyone around me seemed to be conceiving so easily. It is a very tough time.

We then adopted two kids from foster care - and both are amazing kids! I would not change anything for the world, and would undergo it all again.

After my jpouch surgeries 2.5 years ago, making the total 4 abdominal surgeries (22 surgeries in total!) I figured it would be impossible. Out of over 11 years of marriage we never used protection, and completely by surprise I am now 15.5 weeks pregnant. All I can think of is that I have been practising yoga extensively and now teach - so maybe that is what changed my fertility.

My advice is this: Focus on your desire to be a parent - not getting pregnant - and follow whatever path seems right to you to become a parent. You are still young, and you have time to go think about things and go through the steps.

Your tubes might or might not be open - but either way they will not stop you from becoming a parent one way or another.

Good luck!

I could have written your exact post. AND my HSG was completely clear (it's no more painful than your first day of your period IMO, just sort of all at once instead of gradual cramping - my doc told me to take 4 ibu an hour beforehand). I got up and walked out and went to work no problem.

The fact of the matter is, with cases like mine, the scar tissue displaces the ovaries so they are not immediately adjacent to the tubes as they should be. We didn't find this out til we started going through fertility stuff and using clomid and doing timed insemination and IUI and stuff, as precursors to IVF. When they would ultrasound my ovaries to measure progress during the month and figure out when to do the deed, they always had trouble finding them or seeing them as they were not exactly where they should be. This, eventually, was the reason we all decided it was never gonig to work. We wasted 3 years and lots of temping and charting and timed, unsexy sex as well as a couple of thousand on doing useless IUI procedures when in fact the egg just could not get into the (perfectly normal) tubes. And some women struggle with tube problems/scarring as well, making it just impossible.

In the end, they basically said look, the only other option is IVF or quit trying. We took out a loan to pay for ONE cycle of IVF and hoped we would get enough eggs to be able to freeze some embryos and do future cycles with those. We only got enough eggs for one cycle, one try. 6 eggs, 4 successfully fertilized, only 3 made it to egg transfer day. One of them kicked the other two out - he is my 3 year old son.

IVF is very chancy. The success rates, particularly as you grow older, are low. I only had a 40% chance of success but we both agreed we could not grow further older into our 40s and not have at least tried it once. Had we not been successful, we would have felt like we did everything we could to have a child and it just wasn't going to be our future, and we had started to make alterate plans for a life including more travel, investment in an RV, etc so that we could make the most of our life as a childless couple and enjoy each other's company to the fullest. That we were lucky with the odds stacked against us is a miracle, but when I look at my son, I just think it's the best $15,000 I ever spent, and who cares if I never pay it off.

Hi ladies,

Here's my update. Both tubes 100% blocked, pretty much like I thought, very devastating. Hubby and I are looking into adoption now over IVF due to insurance, funds, etc.

Thanks for all the advice. Crappy cards to be dealt with IF after already dealing with UC, you know?

So sorry for the lousy cards Sarah,
Just a small possible light...some women have had their tube 'blown out' thanks to the HSG test...I wouldn't give percentages but it has been known to happen...so do not lose hope completely...how about a serogate? Is it possible where you live? Is it not less 'challenging' than adoption? (I have no idea, in my day and age adoption was nearly impossible and so much more expensive than a serogate)...I don't know US laws on it...here in France it is not recognised but many couples have flown there to have it done...a thought.
They also do a surgery where they open up the tubes and clear them out...then allow them to heal naturally (the put your ovaries to sleep for a yr or 2 to allow full healing...then test to see if they are clear or not)...you could maybe look into it...I am not what it is or isn't done over there but it works well here (about 20%)...
Good luck no matter what happens
Sharon