Guide to IVF Shots

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment used to facilitate pregnancy for couples or individuals who desire to have children. The treatment involves retrieving viable eggs from a patient’s ovaries, fertilizing them with sperm in a controlled lab setting, and then inserting the embryo into the uterus for implantation. 

This article shall be giving you some useful tips on the IVF process, guide you step-by-step on techniques, preparation and administration of IVF injections. The goal of this article is to help you prepare mentally for the process as well as manage any side effects that may arise.  

What Medicines Are Injected in IVF?

At the beginning of the IVF treatment, the individual whose eggs will be used needs to undergo ovarian stimulation. This is a process that causes the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. In order to achieve this, a series of hormone therapy and medications must be taken so that as many viable healthy eggs are retrieved. 

The medications themselves come in the form of vaginal pessaries, or oral tablets. Hormone therapy is typically delivered through injections, which can be done by a medicare provider or by the individual at home. These medications and hormones are tailored to each individual case and will achieve specific expected results.

IVF Step-by-Step

The IVF process typically has three major steps. The first entails delaying ovulation, then stimulating the ovaries, developing the eggs for retrieval, and preparing the uterus for implantation. Below is a breakdown on the process:

Ovulation Delay

Normally, in a menstrual cycle, the ovaries develop several follicles that are located on the outside of an ovary. Each of these follicles contains an immature egg called an oocyte. Typically only one of these oocytes will fully mature. The follicle housing it will rupture and release the egg inside and this is what is commonly known as ovulation. Once one egg is released, the remaining oocytes simply stop developing.

When it comes to IVF cycles, many medical practitioners will suppress this ovulation process using a downregulation protocol. The reasoning is based on a study that found this process to be effective in decreasing the chances of premature ovulation. It also harmonized the growth of follicles with the development of the endometrium, which in turn improved the success rates of IVF treatments. 

Based on each individual case, some doctors will use oral contraceptive pills and others will prescribe injections. At times, a doctor will give a regimen combining the two forms for downregulation. While combining both oral and injectable medication is highly effective, the approach to use is decided based on the unique physiology of each patient.

Stimulating the Ovaries

Once successful synchronization is achieved, the ovaries are stimulated using a series of injectable medications containing follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones. These hormone injections are what increase the number of follicles that will develop.

The idea is to have a bigger number of fully developed follicles by the time of the egg retrieval. Having more eggs is a bit of a contingency plan should a round of IVF be unsuccessful, or should the couple or individual desire to use IVF treatment for future conceptions. The unused eggs are usually preserved frozen for future use.  

Developing Eggs

In order to develop the eggs to full maturity, timing is of the essence. A day or two before the eggs are retrieved, one final hormonal injection is administered, containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Its purpose is to accelerate and finalize the development of the eggs. This injection is more commonly known as a ‘trigger shot’, which has been proven by study to yield high levels of success in the egg retrieval process of IVF treatments.  

Fertilization 

The successfully retrieved eggs will undergo a fertilization process in a controlled lab setting. The sperm used undergoes a ‘cleansing’ procedure beforehand to remove unwanted matter or sperm that is not viable. The new embryo is left for about five to seven days to mature and this is what is implanted in the uterus. 

Uterus Preparation

The fertilized embryo must attach itself to the uterine lining within a short window of time if pregnancy is to be successful. Therefore in order to increase the chances of implantation, an injection called  granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) before the day of the procedure. This may be administered as a intrauterine injection or through the skin. Research has shown that G-CSF injections serve to thicken the endometrium, thus improving the chances of implantation success.

How to Administer an Injection at Home

Injections can be uncomfortable, whether  they are being administered at a medical facility or at home. So much so that a survey of needle phobia in adults found almost two-thirds of the adult population has a fear of needles on some level. 

IVF injections may at the start be not only uncomfortable, but a bit stressful. However, with each subsequent dose, patients have found the process to be easier to manage. If the process of administering your own injections becomes too much to handle, perhaps have someone close to you administer it, or be present as you administer it yourself.

No matter who is doing the injection, the process is the same, but in order to avoid unnecessary discomfort, here are a few tips and techniques: 

1. Ensure that your hands are thoroughly washed beforehand to prevent contamination or possible infection.
2. Carefully clean the site you intend to inject with some rubbing alcohol.
3. Remove the needle cap, point the needle upward, flick the syringe gently, and depress the plunger, removing a small amount of liquid from the tip of the needle. This process eliminates air bubbles.
4. Gently pinch a portion of skin at the injection site, press the needle into it using firm, even pressure, and release it after the needle is fully embedded.
5. Now, depress the plunger using even pressure till all of the medication is released from the syringe. 
6. Remove the needle, and using an adhesive bandage or some gauze, apply pressure to the site.

For those with extra sensitivities, some doctors will recommend using an ice cube to numb the area before cleaning it with alcohol, and again after, which ideally reduces pain, taking your mind off the sensation caused by the injection.

IVF Medications FAQs

Do IVF Shots Leave Marks?

Although some may experience some bruising on the skin around the injection site, IVF injections typically do not leave permanent marks. To manage this, try rotating, switching, or alternating injection sites.

Do IVF Shots Hurt?

Not particularly, they are relatively painless. Additionally, the needles used to administer the shots are relatively small needles which do not penetrate beyond the skin’s layers. However if you feel pain after an injection, gently massage the site, or use ice as previously recommended. 

Will I Add Weight During IVF Injections?

Not typically. IVF treatments have not been known to cause any notable changes in weight. A study on the same found that none of the participants had changes in weight that were of note, and this was throughout more than 500 rounds of IVF injections.

In Conclusion

IVF injections all have a purpose throughout the course of treatment. Each plays a vital role in how successful a treatment cycle will be. These shots are not complicated to administer and the process can be done at home by yourself or with the help of someone you trust.

If you have further queries about IVF treatments, or want to know more about becoming pregnant, contact us at Nevada Center of Reproductive Medicine. Our wide range of reproductive health services are tailored to our patients’ individual needs. Make an appointment at one of our locations to learn more.