IVF Shoot 'Em Up

Stims At Ten Paces

2008-10-13T04:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to IVF Shoot 'Em Up - the most comprehensive collection of injection videos made by ART patients that I know of on the whole of the world wide web!

There's a menu to your left, under the disclaimer, so you can find what you're looking for, and a wish list just below so you can make a request - and you are encouraged to make your own video, especially if you're using a medication we haven't seen in action yet. If you have any extra tips, please leave them in the comments of each post, and if you have a blog or post to a message board, don't forget to grab a button to let others know we're here.

Hopefully you'll gain some confidence after viewing this site. Now good luck with your cycle!

PIO given IM in the backside (jishimer123)

2008-09-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

This is a video of my friend helping me take my first progesterone shot four days before the embryo transfer! Please talk to your doctor about proper procedures, because we might not do everything perfectly. Thanks!

Thanks jishimer123!

SQ injection in the belly given by husband

2008-09-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

This is Chris' first time giving me a shot. We thought it would be good for him to practice before we have to move on to bigger needles.

Thanks dlrust1!

PIO given IM in the backside by self-injection (decateurblair)

2008-09-12T17:42:00.000-07:00

I am a Gestational Surrogate, and I have to give myself 2ccs of PIO by shot every evening. This is what I do, only my 3rd time doing it.

Thanks decateurblair!

PIO and Delestrogen combined into one syringe and given IM in the backside by self-injection (twinkle286)

2008-09-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Combining PIO and Delestrogen into one shot.

Thanks twinkle286!

PIO given IM in the backside by self-injection (CavieJasper)

2008-09-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to give myself the intra-muscular shots, instead of having someone else do it. It helps me have some fake sense of control in this infertility crap. This is how I do it! Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks CavieJasper!

Lovenox/Clexane given SQ (CavieJasper)

2008-09-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

Lovenox is a blood thinner, burns like hell, and leaves terrible bruising. However, after 7 IVF cycles I have learned some tricks to help with the pain and bruises. Here they are, I hope they help you, too. Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks CavieJasper!

PIO/Progesterone given IM (jishimer123)

2008-06-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks jishimer123.

Safely putting the cap back on the needle - passive recapping technique (Bea)

2008-04-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

Needle stick injuries commonly occur during recapping of needles. This probably isn't a big deal, because it's probably your own blood anyway, but ouch! If you have a sturdy sharps bin, you don't have to take the risk - just throw the uncapped needle straight in. If you need to recap, this passive recapping technique is safer.

1. Lie the lid down on a flat surface.
2. Keeping your hands well away from the pointy end of the needle, scoop up the lid with the sharp bit.
3. Press the cap on firmly by bringing your fingers to the base of the cap, away from the sharp end.

From Bea.

Follistim/Puregon given SQ (Jodes)

2008-04-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

Our 14th and FINAL injection of this cycle.

Thanks Jodes. Lesson learnt - let the alcohol dry! There are plenty more demonstrations from Jodes on her blog or at her youtube page.

Follistim/Puregon, Menopur given SQ (Monica Mingo)

2008-03-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

2008 Infertility Diary - In-vitro Fertilization
4th Day of Injectibles! Ganirelix Acetate Protocol
Estrogen Level 225!

Thanks Monica!

Follistim/Puregon given SQ (Monica Mingo)

2008-02-25T23:28:00.000-08:00

1st Day of Injectibles!

Thanks Monica.

Menopur and Gonal F mixed together and given SQ (jenheck)

2008-02-17T00:48:00.000-08:00

This is our IVF Journey Diary, this should not be taken as medical advice as I am not a physician.

Thanks Jennifer.

Repronex given SQ (patybarney)

2008-01-10T02:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks, patybarney.

Follistim/Puregon given SQ (patybarney)

2008-01-10T02:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks patybarney.

Lupron given SQ (patybarney)

2008-01-10T01:52:00.000-08:00

1st Lupron Injection for IVF.

And after a few goes:

We're pros at lupron now, we've just added two more injections.

Thanks patybarney.

Lupron given SQ (ivfstory)

2008-01-10T01:40:00.001-08:00

This is IVF Cycle # 1- Our first Lupron shot.

Thanks ivfstory.

Wish List

2007-12-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

Pregnyl
Ovidrel
Heparin (not in pre-filled syringe - already have a clexane)
Anyone use eg Gonal-F vials anymore?
Are Lucrin and Buserelin presented and administered the same way as Lupron?

Please leave other suggestions in the comments.
Or, even better - do up a video and email me about it (infertilefantasies at gmail dot com).

PIO given IM by self-injection into the backside with small gauge needle (quadruplelatte)

2007-11-16T19:14:00.000-08:00

I hope this helps anyone wanting to do their own PIO injections. Also shows a smaller needle than usual being used.

Thanks quadruplelatte.

Follistim/Puregon given SQ for the first time amid lots of nerves (Jen)

2007-11-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I have ever given myself a Follistim Pen injection.

Thanks Jen. Can't wait to see you when you're shooting up so casually you can talk to your Mum on the phone at the same time. It's my experience that it doesn't hurt unless you're expecting it to.

Update: just two injections later, and already acting like an old hand:

After trying to give myself the first injection I called on DH to do all the rest. It works much better this way.

Corporate Videos for Ovidrel, Cetrotide, Luveris and Gonal F - links outside this site

2007-10-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

Ovidrel - giving a SQ injection into the belly with a pre-filled ovidrel syringe.

Cetrotide - comes in 3mg and 0.25mg flavours - mixing and drawing up from rubber-topped vials, and injecting SQ into the belly.

Luveris - mixing and drawing up from rubber-topped vials, and injecting SQ into the belly.

Gonal F - comes in a pen, or rubber-topped, multi-dose vial and single-use vial - shows all preparation and SQ injection into the belly. Multi-dose drawing instructions show passive recapping technique for needles.

Follistim/Puregon given SQ after much psyching up (Karla)

2007-09-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I continue with our fertility treatments. Monday, 10/23, Jeff wasn't able to be home to do the Follistim shot into my tummy so I had to do it. It totally freaked me out. I haven't been able to do the shots myself since I did them the first round of treatment a year and a half ago!

Enjoy my personal torture! You chickies in the same boat as me know how tough this is! xox

Thanks Karla. And they do get easier, don't they?

PIO given IM by self-injection into the backside (Amanda)

2007-09-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

Every morning since L my [Intended Mother's] egg retrieval, I have had to give myself the PIO intramuscular injection. This is one the mornings.

Thanks Amanda.

Mixing and drawing up from breakable glass vials (MyN1sm0)

2007-09-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

Getting everything ready for the last injection before egg collection.

Thanks MyN1sm0.

Sidebar Antics

2007-09-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

Cut and paste:

{a href="http://ivfshootemup.blogspot.com/"}
{img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uyjKcvA8c8A/RuYXH6GaK0I/AAAAAAAAAJo/Uqzb2i7U9Hg/s400/Sidebar+Logo.jpg"}
{/a}

Then replace {} with <> .

Clexane/Lovenox given SQ (Bea)

2007-09-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling pretty smug because I have no bruises after four weeks of clexane injections. Things I've learned:

Relax!
Slow and steady is the secret.
Draw any droplets away from the tip of the needle before injecting.
Inject slowly and steadily, pinching just gently, bevel up (skinny bit first) taking care not to wiggle the needle.
Draw out slowly and steadily, keeping the skin taught, again taking care not to wiggle the needle.
Apply ice and pressure for a minute or two after the shot.
It doesn't actually hurt!
Later addition - after a couple of months, if you inject too often in the same spot you will start to bruise, so try to vary it.

(From Bea.)

Gonal-F given SQ using a pen (Marisa)

2007-09-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

This is how I give myself Gonal-F shots for IVF. Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks Marisa.

Ganirelix/Antagon given SQ (Marisa)

2007-09-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is how I give myself a Ganirelix injection for my Antagon IVF protocol. Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks Marisa.

Menopur given SQ (Marisa)

2007-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

Part One: drawing up using the Q-cap

Part Two: Mixing

Part Three: Injecting

Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks Marisa.

Follistim/Puregon given SQ (prettykitty724)

2007-09-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

I had my husband record my second Follistim injection for posterity (and as a shameless demand for sympathy). It really isn't that bad if you numb your belly with ice first. The best part (if there can really be a best part) Is my husband's narration. I love that man! FYI, stop pinching after the shot is in. If you look closely you can see that I lost some meds because I kept pinching.

Thanks prettykitty724.

Drawing up and tips for PIO (Watson)

2007-09-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

More injectibles, specifically the progesterone in oil (or PIO) shots.

Thanks Watson.

Mixing and drawing up Menopur, Bravelle (Watson)

2007-09-10T18:44:00.001-07:00

The first part of the injectible process: preparing the meds.

Thanks Watson.

Drawing up Lupron (Watson)

2007-09-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

The first part of the injectible process: preparing the meds.

Thanks Watson.

Follistim/Puregon mixed with Bravelle and given IM in the thigh (MrsStephanie)

2007-09-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

I show how to mix follistim with other meds and how to inject stims intramuscularly.

Thanks MrsStephanie.

Follistim/Puregon and Menopur given SQ (Monica Mingo)

2007-09-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

From the CreoleInDC IVF Video Diary of Monica Mingo.

Thanks Monica Mingo.

Lupron given SQ (MrsStephanie)

2007-09-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

I give a little tutorial about how to give yourself a lupron shot. Be sure to always follow your doctor's instructions.

Thanks MrsStephanie.

PIO given IM in the backside (Marisa)

2007-09-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

This is how my husband gives me a PIO (progesterone in oil) injection at the end of an IVF cycle. Note: This is not for training purposes and each patient has their own dosage, specific doctor's orders and techniques. This was done to show a friend how I personally do my own shots and I am not a doctor, just an IVF patient. Please direct all questions to your own RE.

Thanks Marisa.