IVF Doc Demos Everyone's Least Favorite IVF Med (Progesterone) & How to Make it Suck Less

[@karenludickventer]

Progesterone (in oil) is the worst. But definitely worth it. After 4 failed IVF cycles, we were happy to get to the progesterone stage. Was doing shots until 12 weeks. I ran out of "booty" space, but we pushed through and now we have 2 beautiful baby boys (almost 6months old). Good luck and best wishes to you both.

[@lamisbourek8582]

Congratulations🎉. at what dose and how many times a day you used progesterone? Thank you

[@jesulenejournal6235]

Did you bleed every time you inject with the progesterone?

[@shanbailey100]

I’m sorry you’re going through this, but these IVF videos are so helpful. I appreciate you sharing your experience along with your expertise.

[@Laura-cm2qz]

Very informative! I had a subchorionic hematoma after my FET and had to take progesterone in oil from weeks 7-12 (on top of multiple Endometrin tablets a day). This was definitely the scariest needle and worst medication to inject, but when you're in the thick of it you'll find yourself willing to ignore that fear and do whatever it takes. I ended up with a wonderful 2nd and 3rd trimester, and now have a 3.5 month old daughter. It was all worth it. I wish lots of love to anyone else going through this process! xoxo

[@lizw495]

I wanted to thank you guys again for these videos. I watched them all already, but after more than a year of unsuccessful trying for pregnancy naturally, I’m going to start my ivf journey. I feel more prepared knowing what to expect.

[@robisue1990]

You mentioned icing the injection site. I have found that using a heating pad on the site for 3-5 minutes and towards the end, I will wrap the syringe in the corner of the pad for just a few seconds to loosen it up some. It has made it much more bearable. Although now with 2 weeks left, my body is just sore…I wish you the best of luck through your process!!

[@Stereochemistry]

You guys are so awesome and brave and honest! I was lucky to have only one of these shots and my hat goes off to all the women out there who had to go through weeks of these injections! Wishing you two all the best, my fingers are crossed for all four of you (your future kiddo is already on this list!)

[@kapiliere]

I had to give myself all my PIO shots because my husband was traveling for work so much that particular time period and if you have to do them yourself and are lucky enough to have a massage gun (or can borrow one from a friend) I found that helped SOOOOOOO much! It worked better than the couple of times my husband was home and offered to massage the area for me. So highly recommend a massage gun if you've got access to one!

[@09asiaJ]

Good point! My husband will be doing my shits but we have a massage gun. I’ll definitely have him use it.

[@sophieclair1]

Thank you two so much for sharing. You've actually helped so much. I'm glad you shared your journey and actually offered helpful advice.

[@julie36535]

Seriously, my hip hurts just watching this. I can already feel the pain without even doing it.

[@minaprincess3696]

I’m just starting the progesterone today. But sadly I don’t qualify for natural cycle. So I’m getting two a day. And this is only my mock protocol. I have to be on this for the first trimester and next month for the transfer. I’ll be limping a lot. 🥹 but so long as this ends with a baby for us I’ll be happy. We only have one embryo so prayers for us would be appreciated. 6.5 years of infertility we wish for our miracle soon.

[@ssc9785]

How are u doing now all well? I'm very nervous abt this shot . Pls advise

[@gunblade7610]

THANKS!!! Showing the process is very helpful. My wife and I are needing to do these injections so it is good to see what it looks like in person. I'm super worried about the blood draw portion of making sure I don't hit anything bad

[@donyaalbeesh9298]

My fertility clinic had me take the progesterone injections for 12 weeks. Truly that was the most annoying part of ivf.

[@emilydecardenas2522]

I just did my last progesterone injection last night week 10 of pregnancy. I found that holding a little pressure with a gauze square helped with bruising and a hot moist compress helped with discomfort and dispersal of the medication. But after nearly 60 injections my whole backside is kinda numb/tingly/burning. Totally worth the outcome

[@j3n3saisquoi]

You guys are really so wonderful. I recently started the stimulation process and looking forward to getting to this stage. On another note, can you provide some tips on how you’re managing it all; self care/safe exercise tips, mental health maintenance while working and having a little one?

[@09asiaJ]

Couldn’t agree more, it’s so nice to refer to these during the process. For me not so much for advice but just to not feel alone. We’re on day for of stims! Best of luck

[@j3n3saisquoi]

@@09asiaJ Hoping everything is going well.

[@TheTalawallaLife]

Watching this video for a second time. I start stims tomorrow and I’m hoping it’s easier than I’m expecting

[@elizabethunger9190]

I see a lot of women in the medical industry having fertility issues and needing IVF or fertility meds. Is it likely that’s because of the age women in these careers are having kids since they’re usually not having kids until their mid 30s or later? How awesome it is that we now have access to IVF and fertility drugs to help women get pregnant when needed.

[@ex7229]

Of courses it is. Career women ivf is through the roof because they wait too long. Were going for 3rd child because tubal and want gender selection. We had 2 sons in our 20s now were early 30s. Wish we would of did it in our early 20s back to back naturally.

[@LauraAnn1980]

My process for PIO actually made it not too bad at all. First I would draw and place the syringe in my bra to warm. As that was happening I would ice for about 10 min. Hubby would inject and then heat and massage for about 10 min. I was not on daily PIO though. It was every 3rd day along with vaginal progesterone 2x a day.Sucked for sure but we'll worth it to get my beautiful 3 month old baby girl. Oh and Kurt......just shoot that needle in like you're throwing a dart. Will make the poke a lot easier on Sarsh. Tips from a nurse 😃

[@mykaylahotek7589]

All of these are great, but I never recommend ice… heating pad in your hip before, massage as hard as you can bare for the 3-5 minutes and then heating pad until you can walk again- leaves less of a lump in the long run!

[@youngboydan4153]

I was fortunate enough to have the funds to buy Synestra patches which completely numbed the area and I could do the shots myself no prob. And I’m a huge wimp when it comes to needles! I felt so numb I might as well have been injecting into a raw chicken breast! I eventually worked up to not needing them at all except on an especially mentally hard day. I also preferred doing the shots myself bc I didn’t like the anticipation of someone else doing it. Good luck to anyone out there going through this!

[@NewlyNappy]

What is Synestra? Also where do you buy it? Thanks!

[@dbalexan]

@@NewlyNappy Synera is patch that contains a combination of two local anesthetics, lidocaine and tetracaine. It's applied to the skin for 20 to 30 minutes before skin procedures to ease pain. This patch can be used by adults and children ages 3 years and older. Please note: Synera (lidocaine / tetracaine) has been discontinued and is no longer available in the United States. An alternative medication is Pliaglis (lidocaine / tetracaine cream.

[@ElaSiromascenko1]

Ugh I do not miss the progesterone shots!! By 10 weeks of pregnancy I had 2 tennis balls on my butt lol 😆. But how exciting to follow your journey!! It means you are at the transfer phase, yay!! Unless it's actually an ERA cycle hmmmm... mystery!! Will keep on following ❤

[@zen_mindset1]

Sounds painful. Great tips for women who use this method. Good luck on your journey to baby 2.

[@caralovescorgis]

Can you share your thoughts on a modified natural transfer cycle of a frozen embryo? Chances vs a fully medicated transfer; when it would be a good option vs not; can you eliminate or reduce (with suppositories instead) PiO with a modified natural? Thanks!

[@pinkblossom9856]

😩 Progesterone shots feel like a big fat bee stung you. It last only about a minute or 2 though. It may sting and ache, but it goes away soon after. It's annoying but worth it. Running out of space though is rather painful 😅 You end up trying to figure out which side is less sore to sleep on 🤣 Thank you for sharing and good luck 🌹

[@starrperry6395]

Would the Z track method be a better option so you don’t have leakage from the injection site?

[@jaymiec9394]

Thank you for making this video!!

[@Keepinitreal55]

Why can’t the progesterone be warmed each time? Most women find that to be the most helpful, it makes the oil thinner and it absorbed and injects better

[@debopriya14]

She said you can warm the oil in syringe not the whole bottle

[@hafidaahnane7153]

A much needed video. I really wanna hug you now thank you so much

[@elaniemay2423]

Thank you so much for sharing ❤️

[@natalie_joy1343]

Thank you for this!!

[@Ruby-ix1sn]

I injected my first PIO before watching this video and noticed I made a mistake. I didn't push in the needle all the way to the end, it was just half way, what are the disadvantages/side effects 😥

[@casawall1552]

Very informative thanks, i have a question what needs to be done if the pain doesn't go away even after 5 days. Though each hip has 3 on each every alternative days but she had to stop after the sixth she had to stop because of pain n is still in pain day 5 after 6th shot

[@karalewis8654]

It's likely it was done in the wrong spot. Ask your doctor to draw a circle where you should be doing the injections. If your body type is really small and you don't have much fat or muscle at all, ask your doctor if you can use a 1 inch needle instead of an inch and a half.

[@Eighthplanetglass]

I had the same issue because of connective tissue disorder and I'm small.. I could barely climb stairs

[@jones2277]

do a demo of you doing it yourself. not everyone has help. I've never been able to check for blood because i simply can't see.

[@zoeyiscool1235]

I have to start theses injections tomorrow morning

[@ssc9785]

How is your experience

[@RonnieCrossing]

That looks terrifying.... omg. We are in the retrieval cycle right now. My retrieval is next week. Not looking forward to this for the transfer cycle. Ouchiess.....

[@karalewis8654]

It looks worse than it is. I highly recommend walking around the house for 10-15 minutes after the shot. It works better than massaging the spot and helps with soreness.

[@kevinb238]

I have been doing this for my wife recently and the circles are more on the back-side and not the hip -side. Is this another alternative spot that works then? Seems like there is more cushion on the booty than the hip. Thoughts? Our blood test for pregnancy is this Wednesday. We are scheduled to continue shots if pregnant for a total of 10 weeks since beginning 5 days before FET.

[@kevinb238]

Side Note... I will suggest using the ice/heat method before and after as she clued it has a slight numbness feeling. The massage does wonders for her and good suggestions for the husbands/wives trying to help their partner be the most comfortable.

[@karalewis8654]

There's a spot in the thigh but it hurts alot more. Alot of people only try the thigh once. Don't inject lower on the butt, it recommend in a specific spot so your avoiding nerves, arteries and viens which are lower down. Injecting in the wrong spot can be more painful and definitely risky!

[@beautyqueen9209]

I have pill to put vaginal is there an applicator you recommend as I found it so hard to put it?

[@karalewis8654]

Edometrin comes with applicators if you are able to switch brands.

[@layziecai]

I bought New Life vaginal suppository applicators on Amazon. Helped me so much! I had to do 4 of those balls 2x a day 😂

[@wellspells3171]

What happens it if get the blood when drawn back before inserting the medication?

[@noraMD]

Retract the needle 2mm, redraw back

[@ssharb760]

Why is my progestron (prolutex) given in stomach? If that option exists, why u have to take the one in butt? :(

[@bhavanabhemalkhadkar9692]

How many injections do one has to take during this process? Complete IVF

[@ASMASYED786]

Lots and lots of injections

[@maddiefranken8896]

I been trying to get pregnant but haven't been able to

[@tzahi12370]

You don't need to pull back the plunger. It's only make more damage,90° IM injections are safe.

[@jesigarcia37]

Thank you! I wasn't going to do the pull back method 🥴

[@karalewis8654]

Our clinic used to but have since updated their recommendation to no longer check and just inject.

[@tiffyvivo9429]

Can I reused my needles?

[@karalewis8654]

No

[@jenjenzam]

That looks like a hip injection 😮…. Im on week 9 out of 10 ❤

[@vladmelanie]

Is that where the spleen is?

[@mari.5690]

How much does IVF cost? Do insurances typically cover this?

[@ex7229]

Ours through cny is about 15k and we financed part of it.

[@karalewis8654]

Depends on which state your in. Some states require health insurance companies to include it in their health plans. At the moment 12 states have coverage for IVF. If it's not state mandated check with your insurance plan anyways.

[@vee_grave]

Is it possible that you guys may be trying to have a baby too soon after your recent pregnancy? I’m not making a judgement call, only asking if this could potentially affect fertility.

[@Stereochemistry]

Trying for a second baby within their time span doesn't affect fertility, as long as the menstrual cycles are back on track. Sarah is a fertility specialist so if there's one informed woman here knowing what she's doing, it's her :) They posted another video a few months ago explaining the reasons behind their diagnosis of secondary infertility. Nothing to do with trying too soon

[@ex7229]

My brother and sister and I were all within a year. No problem at all

[@jesulenejournal6235]

I bleed all the time. How come you doesn't bleed?

[@livethroughthis3863]

She looked nervous