When starting a fertility treatment cycle, our goal is to help make the patient’s journey a little easier. Like any of us in this field, working with a fertility specialist isn’t about receiving a service—it’s about being involved in a caring partnership that goes well beyond the purchase of medications.
If the idea of injecting yourself (or a loved one) with medication is intimidating, you’re certainly not alone. Many patients express uncertainty or even fear of the requirements for fertility medication regimens. To help empower our patients and allow them to feel confident when starting treatment, VFP Pharmacy Group has compiled information on frequently used fertility treatment medications.
On top of that, we’ve put together a series of videos on taking fertility medications to walk you through the different methods.
How To: Intramuscular Injections
- After prepping your medication, the first step is to determine where you will be injecting your medication. The injection may be administered in the left or right upper, outer area of the buttocks or a hands-length away from the knee on the right or left thigh.
- With the needle pointing up, tap the syringe to force any bubbles to rise to the top and gently press on the plunger to expel the air.
- Wash the site with an alcohol wipe and allow it to air dry.
- Holding the syringe like a pencil in one hand, use the other to firmly stretch the skin at the selected injection site.
- With a dart-like motion, insert the needle directly into the skin at a 90-degree angle.
- Using either hand to stabilize the syringe, use the other to pull back slightly on the plunger and look for any blood. If you feel slight resistance or see a bubble, this is normal. No blood means the syringe is placed properly. If there is blood, do not inject the medication. Remove the syringe and put it in a sharps container, and apply pressure to the injection area. You will need to re-prep your medication using a new syringe.
- Afterward, you can press the plunger to administer the medication and quickly remove the needle once the syringe is empty.
- If there is any bleeding after removing the needle, apply pressure to the area with a clean tissue or gauze pad.
- Used needles and syringes should then be placed in a sharps container.
How To: Subcutaneous Injections
- Determine your injection site. These should be rotated daily and include:
- The upper, outer thigh.
- Your abdomen (either one to two inches right, left or below your belly button).
- The upper backside of your arms, about two to three inches from your shoulder.
- With the needle pointing up, tap the syringe to force any bubbles to rise to the top and gently press on the plunger to expel the air.
- Wash the site with an alcohol wipe and allow it to air dry.
- Holding the syringe like a pencil in one hand, use the other to pinch a roll of skin at the selected injection site.
- With a dart-like motion, insert the needle directly into the skin at a 45-90-degree angle.
- Press the plunger to administer the medication and quickly remove the needle once the syringe is empty.
- If there is any bleeding after removing the needle, apply pressure to the area with a clean tissue or gauze pad.
- Used needles and syringes should then be placed in a sharps container.
VFP Pharmacy Group Makes Fertility Medication Simpler
If you’d like one-on-one instruction, you can request a free virtual medication consultation with one of our experienced nurses. They’ll meet with you over a video call to answer any questions and walk you through your medications, injection techniques, and any other procedures you’re having trouble with. Our nurse and pharmacist teams are available 24/7/365 to answer any additional questions you may have such as proper storage of medications, etc. Visit our website for more information or give us a call.