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It's a painful fact of life that IVF
treatment involves giving the woman lots of infertility medications through injection.
While most people are naturally needle-phobic, learning how to take these
injections yourself can help simplify your life considerably !
If you find the idea of giving yourself a
shot more than you can stomach, then you can get your husband to give them
to you. Trust me, no one will give them with more love and care - and this
way he can learn a new skill as well !
There are basically 2 types of injections -
intramuscular ( IM); and subcutaneous ( SC).
Lupron ( Buserelin) is usually given
subcutaneously; while Menogon ( HMG) is usually given intramuscularly.
Please remember that there is very little
risk of your harming yourself by giving yourself these injections.
It's a good idea to practise on an orange to increase your confidence
levels. You could also request a nurse to supervise you the first time to
give yourself a shot, so she can confirm you are doing a good
job !
The steps are simple.
1. Assemble your equipment
2. Load the medication into the syringe
3. Prepare the injection site
4. Give the medication
5. Clean up
Find a clean, quiet and comfortable
place where you will not be disturbed. Many women find their bathroom or
kitchen to be a good spot. Clean a place on the countertop so that you can
lay your supplies down. Wash your hands well and dry them thoroughly.
Gather your supplies. This includes your medications , syringes, needles
for mixing drugs (usually bigger) and needles for injecting the drugs
(usually smaller), alcohol swabs and sharps container. If you are injecting
more than one drug (for example both Buserelin and Menogon ) you will want to
separate the equipment for one drug from the equipment for the other.
INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS |
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This is an injection that you give into a
muscle.
You first need to load the medication into the syringe. You can
use a 1 ml or 2 ml syringe. This is usually a simple matter of
dissolving the powder in the supplied solvent .
 
    If your medication comes in rubber-stoppered ampoules, you first
need to draw up the solvent into a syringe. You do this by sucking
up the solvent into the syringe by piercing the rubber stopper with
a 20 gauge needle. You then need to squirt this solvent into the
ampoules which contains the medication
( the active powder)
by piercing the rubber stopper with the same 20 gauge needle,
and allow it to dissolve completely. The powder will dissolve
instantly and the solution will become clear. Repeat this until you have
loaded the required dose into the syringe. Usually, one 1 ml of
solvent can dissolve upto 6 vials of the powder. Keeping the solvent
volume low will help to reduce the pain of the injection.
If the medication comes in glass vials, you will need to open the
vials by breaking off the glass tops of the vials , and following the
above procedure. Open all the vials at one time to make it easier
for yourself.
Once the medication has been loaded into the syringe, remove the 20
G needle, and replace it with a fine 23 G needle.
Lying down-or standing with your weight off of the side
to be injected-locate the upper outer quadrant (or quarter) of your
buttock. The injection is given here.
The other option is to give it in the outer aspect of your thigh,
along the middle third.
Take a deep pinch between your thumb and forefinger and wipe
with alcohol. Then let dry.
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Place the needle into this pinch of tissue and muscle
completely, leaving none of the needle exposed.
This ensures you are taking the injection deep into the muscle.
Draw back on the plunger. If you are accidentally in a
blood vessel ( incidentally, this is highly unlikely ! ) , blood will appear in the syringe. If so, pull the
needle out, replace it with a new, sterile needle, and repeat the
process.
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Slowly push the plunger all the way to inject the medication, and
pull the needle straight out.
The key to a comfortable injection is swift needle entry followed by
slow injection of fluid. Therefore, slowly push the plunger down
then quickly withdraw the needle.
Alternate between your left and right sides, each time you give
yourself an injection.
This will prevent the muscles from becoming sore. |
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 Apply pressure and massage the injection site gently for
thirty seconds after you administer the shot.
Using ice cubes can help to relieve some of the discomfort. Some
patients find numbing the skin with ice cubes prior to taking the
injection is also helpful.
Never reuse needles and syringes.
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Dispose of the syringe in a biohazard container such as a Sharps
container-or in an unbreakable plastic container such as a laundry
detergent bottle that you can seal. |
SUBCUTANEOUS
INJECTIONS |
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A subcutaneous injection is one that is given
just under the skin.
You first need to load the medication into the syringe. You usually
use a disposable 1 ml insulin syringe. This is usually a simple
matter of piercing the rubber cap of the ampoule with a 20 G needle,
and sucking the required volume of the medication into the syringe,
upto the required mark.
Once the medication has been loaded into the syringe, remove the 20
G needle, and replace it with a fine 25 G needle. The primary site for a subcutaneous injection in your abdomen is
2 inches on either side of your navel, or belly button.
Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure that the surface you
work on is clean.
Sterilize the injection area with an alcohol swab by cleaning
about two inches of skin around the injection site. Let it dry for
at least one minute.
Remove the needle cover. |
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Pinch the area of skin you have cleansed with alcohol. The
injection is given here.
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Holding the needle like a pencil about 1 inch above the injection
site, quickly insert the needle.
Release the fold of skin.
Depress the plunger all the way, injecting all of the medication,
and pull the needle straight out.
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Never reuse needles or syringes.
Dispose of the syringe in a biohazard container such as a Sharps
container-or in an unbreakable plastic container such as a laundry
detergent bottle that you can seal. |
If you need more detailed
information , visit the site,
Injecting Fertility Medications. Clicking
here will cause the site to open in a new window.
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Address:
Dr Malpani, Malpani Infertility Clinic,
Jamuna Sagar, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road,
Colaba, Bombay 400 005.
Tel: 91-22-22151065, 91-22-22151066
Fax (India): 91-22-2215 0223
Email: info@drmalpani.com
About us - * - Contact us
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