Many of our patients opt to do egg freezing, IUI or IVF. These ART (assisted reproductive technique) procedures often require subcutaneous injections of fertility medications to be self administered at home. Some people feel daunted or worse, extremely anxious at the prospect of injecting themselves. If this feels familiar to you, you are in great company. Fortunately, this has been well-researched. It turns out that there are proven techniques that can help.
One such method is called Applied Tension Technique. This technique is particularly good for people who feel faint at the sight of a needle or blood. Through a method of repeatedly tensing and releasing leg, arm and trunk muscles, it raises blood pressure and reduces the chance of fainting. Tensing and releasing muscles also is called progressive relaxation, and another effect is to switch our nervous system out of flight/flight/freeze mode and into rest/digest/relax mode.
Organization- Be sure to have reviewed video or written material from your doctor on timing, dosage and mixing of medications ahead of time. Get yourself all set up with all the supplies you will need on a clean, flat surface. Be sure to have washed your hands. Watch this excellent video from a nurse on how to give yourself an IVF injection. The tips she gives will be useful for any kind of ART injections you are undergoing.
Buzzy Bee- This adorable vibrating ice pack is designed for kiddos, but works great for adults as well. It is meant to be used during an injection. Utilizing on the Gate Control theory of pain- vibration, light touch, and heat or ice will fill up pain receptors in the brain, diminishing the experience of pain.
Relaxation also reduces the felt experience of pain, while stress can increase it. Deep breathing can help reduce stress and is another technique to move us out of sympathetic fight or flight and back into parasympathetic rest and relax mode. We recommend a few slow deep breaths and exhale upon an injection.
Heat pad and topical numbing- Some people find heating the area for 10-15 minutes with a heating pad helps a lot. It relaxes tense muscles and increases circulation which will help a larger dose of meds disperse more quickly. Paring that heat with an over-the-counter numbing agent to reduce sensation locally such as Anbesol can numb the nerves on the skin temporarily. If you use this, or something similar, let it sit on your skin for two minutes, then wipe it off with an alcohol swab to make sure you have a sterile field before injecting your meds.
Pinch an inch- Subcutaneous injections are aimed to go into the fat tissue between your skin and muscle. Pinching an inch or two of skin pulls the fat away from muscle, helping you get the injection into that fat tissue where you want it. The pinching also stimulates cutaneous nerves, distracting the brain from injection pain.
Ask for help- Don’t hesitate to ask a friend, family member or your partner to help you. If that is not possible, it’s totally ok. You’ve got this!! You are not alone. So many others share your experience. These injections are designed for people to administer at home. You are strong, capable and resilient.
We are here for you at Double Happiness Health. Let us know if we can support you further or answer any questions. We’d love to hear whether you found this post helpful, and what techniques you used to make your injection experience better. You can reach is at info@doublehappinesshealth.com.
Best of luck with your injections and your fertility journey. We are rooting for you!