Injection Training for Fertility Medications

Welcome to injection training! Please click on the link below for the medications that match those listed on your prescription form. If you have any questions after viewing the videos, please contact your coordinator for clarification.

Freedom Fertility Medication Training Videos

Breathing and other relaxation techniques can help with any anxiety or discomfort.

How to Administer Injectable Fertility Medications: Instructions and Videos

These sites offer online instructions and training videos that show you how to self-administer various fertility drugs. Please click on the links below for videos showing proper injection techniques. 

M.D.R.

• Medical Center
• Subcutaneous injection video
• Intramuscular injection video

Merck

• Follistim
• Ganirelix
• Pregnyl (hCG)

Fertility Lifelines

• Ovidrel
• Gonal-F (Pens and Multidose vials)
• Cetrotide

Tips for Subcutaneous Injections

• When you first start injectable medication, you may experience some site reactions caused mainly by the med’s large proteins. Reactions reduce with improved technique and as your body gets used to these proteins. Reactions do not reduce the efficacy of the medication.
• Common reactions may include bruising, soreness, redness and itching. You might have some allergic reactions such as hives, which may require treatment or a change in your medication. If you experience severe reactions such as shortness of breath and it is after business hours, please seek emergency medical care.
• Take your medication between 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm or, if you are taking the medication twice a day, between 7:00 am – 9:00 am and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm It is very important not to miss a dose or take it later than 9:00 pm.
• Before you start, wash your hands with antibacterial soap. Swab the area with rubbing alcohol, and allow the alcohol to dry on the skin before injecting.
• Use 27-gauge, ½-inch needles for injection of Repronex and Menopur. Use 1 cc dilutent (sterile water) to mix each 75 unit of powder medication. Use 1 cc dilutent (sterile water) to mix up to 6 vials of medication. The total amount injected should not exceed 1 cc.
• For Ganirelix or Ovidrel, express air first, then inject.
• If injecting into the abdomen, go an inch below and to the left or right of your navel. “Pinch an inch” to get to the injection site. Switch using the left side and the right side of your abdomen each day to prevent soreness.
• Inject quickly and fully, at a 90-degree angle. This ensures cleaner penetration and reduces chance for reactions. Pull the needle straight out when finished injecting.
• When using Gonal F pen or Follistim pen, be sure to wait 5 seconds after injecting before withdrawing the needle.
• Cold compresses and over-the-counter cortisone can treat local skin reactions.

How to Administer Progesterone in Oil

General Instructions:

1. Remove pop-top from a vial and swab a rubber stopper with alcohol.
2. No mixing is required. The vial contains Progesterone mixed in oil.
3. Put a new sterile needle (22-gauge, 1½-inch needle) onto 3 ml syringe prior to the injection.
4. Apply ice to the skin prior to the injection, if desired.
5. Insert the needle in a dart-like motion.
6. Pull syringe plunger back to check for blood.
7. If you do not see any blood, inject the medication slowly since oil is viscous.
8. If you observe blood, take the needle out, replace it with a new sterile needle (22- gauge, 1½-inch needle) and repeat the procedure.
9. Massage the injection site after the injection using good pressure in a circular motion.
10. If you experience local inflammation at the injection site, you may use a heating pad.

Drawing Instructions:

1. Pull syringe plunger back to the 1 ml mark to draw air.
2. Inject 1 ml of air into the vial with Progesterone.
3. Draw out 1 ml of the medication.
4. Administer intramuscularly.
5. Discard the needle and syringe.

Disposal of Needles and Medication Bottles

Your pharmacy should provide you with a red Sharps container for needles. You may bring in needles and medication vials to any pharmacy. The needles must be in a puncture-proof container.