Disposing of empty IVF meds and vials

[Hoop123]

Hi lovely people,

We are hopefully moving house shortly so I thought I’d take the chance to open and clear out all the boxes of old medication from previous rounds. I originally thought it would be cute to keep it all then after attempt #2 it was more that I couldn’t deal with it! After 6 attempts, including a cancelled round, I’ve got 18 boxes of used Lubion vials and 7 gonal-f pens, empty buserelin vials, etc etc 🙈. What do people do with it all?

I also have lots of unused and unopened needles and syringes. Can these be donated?

I know my sharps bins (8 of those, so not as many as I thought) will need to go to my clinic or a pharmacy, etc. for proper disposal. Although I’m hesitant to walk into my clinic with a giant bump as I know that can be ridiculously distressing for people! But I can figure that one out 😊

Thanks for your help! ❤️

[Solly-44]

Hiya love, we actually found that no chemists wanted to take sharps boxes anymore so we had to take them to the clinic 🤷‍♀️ This might be very area specific, not sure?

I wouldn’t worry too much about going back with a bump, I had no option but to take my son to an appointment recently. Scouted it out with my friend who also had IVF as I felt really awkward about it and she said she loved seeing people with kids or who were pregnant there because it reminded her it can work!

[Hoop123 in reply to Solly-44]

Thank you! True, I found one pharmacy online who mentions it but I have a feeling they aren't going to want them! I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt awkward about it but I think you're right, it's a success story after all... Plus luckily the reception area usually only has a few people in it max as you head to another floor to wait for your appointments and treatments. It'd be lovely to see them again too ☺️

What did you do with your empty glass vials by the way? Do they also need to go into the sharps bins?

[Solly-44 in reply to Hoop123]

I think we just put them in the bin but now I’m questioning whether that’s the right thing 😬😅

Good luck with the move, you have a great excuse to not help with the boxes!

[Hoop123 in reply to Solly-44]

Hah, I'm just overthinking it!! I'm sure the bin is absolutely fine.

And thanks! Not sure how I've timed moving day with only having 6-7 weeks to go but oh well a great excuse to not deal with boxes!

[FrancyItaly]

Perhaps contact the clinic and a nurse will come outside to collect it from you. I’m sure they can take sharp bins and unused needles. But like Solly said, it should be positive for patients to see and ex patient with a bump as it gives hope. At least that is how I felt when it happened to me xxx

[Hoop123 in reply to FrancyItaly]

Thank you! Ah yes good point! Maybe they'll take the unused needles, too.

I think you're both right. And as long as it's clear I'm an ex patient it should hopefully give people some hope ☺️❤️

I'm just overthinking it. I was even wondering if I could do it stealthily box by box at my hospital appointments as they usually have bins in the toilets 😂😂

[FrancyItaly in reply to Hoop123]

If there is a pharmacy in your hospital they might take the sharp bin, they took mine in my hospital! Or just tell the midwife, they have where to put them there xx

[Fudge1980]

Hey lovely 💗. It’s the council who will collect your sharps bins. My doctors got me on the list. Or go on the website and try and register with them to come and collect. Mine come once a month as I was on fragmin the whole pregnancy.

Good luck moving 💗🥰

[Fudge1980 in reply to Fudge1980]

Sorry I forgot I think it’s under clinical waste on your council website and you can live chat with them x

[Hoop123 in reply to Fudge1980]

Ooo I didn't realise! It makes sense though. I'll investigate and try and get a collection.

And thank you! ❤️

[Hoop123 in reply to Hoop123]

Also I'm in awe that you took fragmin through your entire pregnancy 🥳💪! Hope everything's going well with your new bundle of joy 💕 xx

[Hidden]

I was going to say what Fudge said - your council will do it. Sadly you can’t even get rid of unused syringes though I found I had to ditch them all x

[Hoop123 in reply to Hidden]

Perfect! Although that's a pity about the needles and syringes. I get it but it's such a waste!! X

[Hidden]

Hello, yes most pharmacies won’t accept sharps boxes anymore. Two options - council or clinic (or you can try midwife leg unit mine were kind enough to take mine). Re unused syringes the pharmacy in hospital said they could take them if they were in a sharps box!!! I asked MLU if they had a spare sharps box I could have for them and they actually took them (tightly or wrongly!). Good luck. Please don’t do what a neighbour in our block did and drop them in the normal rubbish. Bin refused to collect the bins for ages after that and it was a nightmare!

[Hoop123 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! I've got a midwife appointment on Wednesday so I'll scope it out! Did you put your empty glass vials in the sharps bins, too?

And no, I'm definitely not going to attempt to put them in the normal bin! Eek that would have been such a pain 😬

[StarsAllAround]

Speak to your clinic, my clinic dispose of the used vials and pens for you and any unopened needles they keep and give to other patients who need them.

[Hoop123 in reply to StarsAllAround]

Fantastic! I'd love for the unopened needles and syringes to not be wasted.

[JoyfulStar]

Like you I moved house last year and looked into what to do with my unused medication. My IVF clinic accepted my left over meds as they will use them in training.

I did my research online and found an organisation that will accept unused syringes as long as they are in their original packages intercare.org.uk/how-to-sup...

I donated my unused syringes and it was gratefully accepted.

Loose syringes like the ones used for Buserilne can be donated to zoos I think.

I hope you have not yet gotten rid of your syringes! Good luck with the house move.

[Hoop123 in reply to JoyfulStar]

This is excellent! And no, all the syringes are still in a bag waiting to be dealt with 😊 I'll look into intercare as I'd love to donate them!

Thank you!!