Should metformin be discontinued before doing a hysterosalpingogram (HSG)?
I’m writing this to save a lot of people a lot of grief and a lot of worry. If you’re having an HSG and are on Metformin and are freaking out because there are a few websites that say you should stop taking Metformin 2 days before you have an HSG and you haven’t, just take a deep breath and relax. We just went through this. I am not a doctor but our doctor told us you only need to stop taking it if you have diabetes or kidney problems. If you do not have a kidney problem or diabetes, don’t have a sleepless night like I did. You probably have nothing to worry about.
Again, I am writing this to save a lot of people the sleepless I had.
Patients should go off metformin for several days prior to any x-ray procedure in which iodinated compounds will be used, including the hysterosalpingogram where contrast dye is injected into the uterus (note: this is a different procedure than a sonohystogram where saline is injected into the uterus before an ultrasound). The reason for this recommendation is that the kidneys clear both the dye and metformin. It should not be a problem if renal function judged by creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests is normal. Renal function testing should be performed before metformin is started, and periodic screening is prudent. Many of the users of metformin are older diabetics with altered kidney function, and this is added precaution.
