If you’re like me and going through the IVF process one of the most daunting aspect is the notion you have to give yourself injections. Not just any injections… I’m talking about the intramuscular (IM) injections. It’s bad enough having to do injections in your belly, but the deep IM injections take it to a whole new level.
I remember the first time I ever had to give myself an IM injection. I was sitting in the hotel in CO post egg retrieval and getting ready for a fresh transfer, contemplating how I was going to do this. I had no idea where I should inject, but I knew I had two options, glute or thigh. Doing the injection in my glute seemed more difficult, as I wasn’t sure logistically how I was going to reach around a push the plunger by myself and I wasn’t sure I could find the right spot. My anxiety was rising and I could feel my heart racing and my hands shaking. I asked my husband to leave the room because I could feel the anxiety radiating off of him, adding to my own. Holding the syringe in my trembling hand I stared at the long, sharp needle as I tried to mentally will my hand to move and just do it! I knew I had to get it over with, there was obviously no choice at this point. So I just grasped the syringe in my right hand, took a deep breath, and stabbed.
That was the first and last time I ever did the injection in my thigh. Goodness was my leg sore and I had a limp for 3 days after! After that first thigh injection I started watching some Youtube videos on how to do glute injections. The glute is a preferred location for these deep IM injections as it doesn’t hurt quite as bad afterwards. However, self injection in the glute is more difficult to do yourself as you have to reach around, get the angle right, and then also push the plunger down. Let’s not forget that oil is much thicker and viscous, making it more difficult to push the plunger down. I thought to myself, there has to be a better way.
Just to be clear, there is a right and wrong way to administer IM injections in the glute, so please make sure to educate yourself before attempting this.
I had never heard of auto injectors before, so when I started doing some searching online and came across support group comments referencing auto injectors, I had to check this out for myself! I found a brand online, compared sizes, and then ordered myself one. I personally LOVED using an auto injector and am so glad I chose to purchase one. It took away the “stabbing” that you have to do when self injecting.
- Lock button so you don’t accidentally jab the needle until you are ready
- Easy to press activation button for needle insertion
- An LED light pressure guide
- Insertion of needle is fast and controlled, takes away the self stabbing motion
- Device is larger than syringe with grip control, allows for a more steady injection
Video below with short demo on the auto injector I used.
Make sure to chose the correct syringe size for the auto injector that you need for your progesterone injections. There are specific syringe sizes and needle gauges to choose from.
Pro Tips:
- Progesterone oil goes in smoother if you warm it up before. Placing the oil in your bra will slightly warm the oil making it easier to inject
- If you would like to get some lidocaine cream and apply topically to the site before insertion this can help reduce discomfort. I will be honest, I didn’t find it helped that much but it’s worth a shot if you are worried
- Having a heating pad to warm the spot and give some soft massage post injection can help to disperse the oil into the muscle and reduce discomfort. This is so important as you will find you get a hard, tender lump at the insertion site.
Conclusion
So are Auto Injectors worth it? I think so! If you are doing your own injections these auto injectors can make the process smoother and more feasible. I hope this helped! Let me know if you have any questions.
