Intramuscular progesterone injections advice

[CICMAC]

Hi,

I am going for my third FET next month and been told I will be doing progesterone injections (bum) this time instead of pessaries. I am looking for some advice from anyone who has done these injections themselves? My husband works away so won’t be at home and I’m worried how I can do them myself, getting the right angle etc to make it less sore!!

[KLADY123]

Hi

I take lubion once a day, I find it really easy. Just pinch a bit of skin on the stomach (you can do upper leg I think if you prefer) and I inject straight in at 90°

I sometimes get a bruise, pain at the injection site or a little lump but it goes within a few hours.

Best wishes x

[JadeH92]

Ask your clinic if it can be given in the middle third outer section of the thigh (the vastus lateralis muscle to be technical) .

I am a nurse and we can give deep intra muscular injection in ventrogluteal (hip area), deltoid (upper arm) but they are only for small volume medications or the dorsogluteal (upper outer quadrant of the buttock) and the thigh like mentioned above for bigger volume medications.

It will be much easier for you to make sure you are getting it into the muscle if you are able to give it in the thigh.

But please check first because some clinics / medication specifically states buttock.

Hope this helps and good luck xxx

[CICMAC in reply to JadeH92]

Thank you so much! Really helpful advice xx

[Cinderella5]

I havent done these however one of the major tips is to warm the solution up prior to injecting. Best of luck, this is the best way of getting progesterone into you!!🤞🏻xxx

[Lancal]

I may have to use intramuscular injections on myself after my upcoming transfer, if I don’t get high enough levels with subcutaneous lubion injections (it’s the subcutaneous ones that can go in your stomach - not intramuscular, although I’m sure you know this already). My doctor talked it through with me a bit, in case I do have to use them. I would be injecting into my thigh instead of my bum. Maybe see if your doctor is happy for you to do it this way? I’m sure it’s easier than trying to inject your own bum.

Good luck! 🤞🏼

[Fairylights89]

Hi, I have done these for FET. Initially I was apprehensive doing them on myself and I’m a nurse! Totally different ball game giving an IM injection to yourself. But it was actually fine once I got the hang of it. Like others said make sure its warm before hand. Place your thumb on your hip bone and extend your fingers back… that’s the upper outer part of your bum and anywhere there will be fine. I’m sure the nurse will go through proper technique but it is very manageable by yourself. Good luck xx

[CICMAC in reply to Fairylights89]

Thank you - good to hear people have managed to do it themselves and personal experiences. I’m panicking less about it now xx

[try2020]

Hi I haven't had to do these but another lady on a different forum was doing them herself and the nurse drew circles on her bum/hip area to give her something to aim for, good luck!

[hifer]

Hey lovely. It is possible to give yourself these injections. I had to whilst my husband was away sometimes. It’s not the easiest in your bum but you can get used to it using a strategically placed mirror in the bathroom which is what I did. The injection is pretty easy to give yourself but with these injections you have to inject the needle and then pull it out a tiny bit to ensure you haven’t hit a blood vessel (it does happen), before you inject the solution. Like I say, you can get used to it but worth checking that you can also inject into the thigh too to start with and get the hang of it. Feel free to DM me if you’d like more tips.

Xx

[Milly_Oz]

Hi there, I have to do these too (not started yet). I will be doing them in upper buttock region (eek). I bought some numbing cream and numbing patches to help (lidocaine). Good luck!

[kittie2]

These are all great tips. I do my own shot a few times a week. I’m not going to lie, it was incredibly scary the first time. Took me a good 10 min to convince myself to stick the needle in. Now I actually prefer to do it myself. Here is what I do:Stand in front of a large mirror, place hands on hips with thumbs on butt. Where my thumb hits, I draw a circle (gel type pen works best for drawing on skin. The circle needs to be completely above the top of the butt crack and more towards the hip than the middle). Wipe the target spot with alcohol pad, and prep the syringe. Put all my weight on one leg - the side I’m not injecting. Stretch the skin with my thumb and finger, line up the needle, deep breath and dart it in fast. Pull back on the syringe plunger a tiny bit to check that there’s no blood. Inject SLOWLY (when my husband did my shot last week, he forced the oil in really fast. It left me with a hard painful knot that still hasn’t completely gone away). Once all the oil is in, count to 5 and remove the needle. Wipe away any oil the dribbles out, or it might irritate the skin. Massage the area for a minute or two and/or walk around the house a bit to get the oil moving.

I’ve not tried injecting in the thigh. My doc prefers the shots in the bum. I’ve heard it’s actually more painful in the leg, and it’s recommended to use a shorter needle.

Best of luck!

[CICMAC in reply to kittie2]

Thanks - lots of good tips! I also heard it’s sorer in the thigh so going to try cope with the bum! Xx

[Muddydogs57]

Hi, I’ve been doing these myself too. there are loads of great videos on YouTube I found swiped helpful - I was so nervous but found it absolutely fine! Definitely warm the area with heat pads and also warm the progesterone too. You do have to twist a bit to get the right spot but I’ve been doing mine lying down on my side as I found that easier. Each time I am a bit nervous but then I do it and really don’t feel a thing. Also recommend giving the area a good massage after for 5 minutes or so. Best of luck 😀

[LRed]

Hey, yeah, like some of the others said, it is not a problem at all to do it on the bum by yourself. I did it without any clever tips like using a mirror or drawing a target, very crude lol, but it was all good! (see my old post) Good luck x

[Trying2FeelPositive]

Hi. Some tips:1. Please ask the nurse at your IVF clinic to mark the areas on the bum and thighs for you.

2. Ask her to supervise you when you give yourself the first shot.

3. I sit with a heating pad for 10-15 mins to heat up the area

4. At the same time I put the injection under my armpit to warm it up.

5. When ready, go in front of the mirror (if injecting the bum), stretch the area with one hand.

6. Hold the injection like a dart and then insert it swiftly.

7. Afterwards massage the area just a little bit and then apply heating pad again and sit with it for 10 mins.

Of course don’t forget to use the alcohol wipes before injecting and afterwards.

That’s how I injected myself the days my husband wasn’t home and I kept using a permanent marker to mark the area every second day so I know exactly where I need to insert. I alternated between right and left side everyday. Hope this helps. All the best!

[CICMAC in reply to Trying2FeelPositive]

Thanks - lots of good tips!! I think I just need to do it without thinking about it too much!! Xx