Being treated with gonadotropins Going through IVF treatment Having IUI treatment
Giving yourself a subcutaneous injection is easier than you may think. The first couple of times you may be nervous. But before you know it, you’ll feel like a pro. You may have some medications that are given subcutaneously (for example, Gonal-F, Follistim, Lupron, and Ovidrel) and others that are intramuscular (like progesterone in oil). The instructions below are only for subcutaneous injection.
What You Need Before You Start
A clean, dry surface to work onAlcohol swabsClean handsGauzeNeedles or syringesYour medication
How to Give Yourself the Injection
Tips on Injections
If you’re nervous about giving yourself injections at home, that’s OK. Here are some tips that can help you feel more prepared:
Ask the staff at your doctor’s office or fertility clinic to show to do the first injection. You can also ask about local and online resources that provide education about giving at-home injections. Additionally, medication manufacturers often provide how-to videos on their websites. Ask your partner or a friend to help you perform the injection yourself. If you don’t have someone to help at home, your fertility clinic might let you come in for the injection. However, it often has a small fee attached and unless you live close by, it might not be practical to go in for daily injections. Expect some mild bruising and redness to appear near your injection sites, especially if you nick a blood vessel. You can reduce the irritation by avoiding that area for your next injection.
Don’t rush, remember to breathe, and keep in mind that the first time is usually the hardest because you don’t know what to expect. You’ll get more confident each time you perform an injection and after a while, it won’t feel as intimidating.
