{"id":52945,"date":"2019-11-29T10:45:16","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T08:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=52945"},"modified":"2022-04-12T17:37:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:37:37","slug":"ivf-injections-painful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/ivf-injections-painful\/","title":{"rendered":"Are IVF Injections Painful?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a fact of life that the IVF process<\/a> involves regular injections to administer the necessary medication. The hormonal drugs that they deliver are essential to the process, but that doesn\u2019t make the prospect any more fun for those embarking on a programme of IVF. For those who have never been through the process, the sheer number of injections may come as a bit of a surprise. How painful are IVF injections<\/strong>? Not at all, not much, quite a lot\u2026 all of these are true, at different times, for different people.<\/p>\n

In this IVI blog article, we set out to deliver the information you need to give you a well-informed approach to your planned IVF treatment. We set out the facts about how IVF injections<\/strong> are given and what the injection programme consists of, together with an evaluation of the pain potential of the different types of injection and some tips to keep any pain to a minimum.<\/p>\n

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How are IVF injections administered?<\/h3>\n

Most, if not all, IVF injections<\/strong> are self-administered. This is because the frequency and timing of the injections make this the only practical option to cause the least disruption to everyday life. For many people, particularly those working in a medical environment, this will be no more of a problem than swallowing a tablet. For others, particularly the unfortunate few who have a phobia of needles, the very act of self-administration can add to the anxiety and stress of the whole situation. Most people fall somewhere between these two extremes and so for them, while it doesn\u2019t top the list of the most fun things to do, self-administration is manageable. Don\u2019t worry, you are going to be given fully detailed instructions, demonstrations and moral support.<\/p>\n

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What is the IVF injection regime?<\/h3>\n

Day one of your treatment is the first day of your period, when the ovarian stimulation process begins. This is where the regime becomes quite intense, involving sometimes more than two injections every day for seven to ten days. During this time, the growth and development of the follicles are monitored through blood tests and ultrasound scans. The final stage of oocyte growth is also triggered with injection of This final injection is also self-administered and your medical team will instruct you on the exact hour that it should be done. Timing is particularly crucial here, but is also a vital factor in the whole stimulation period, and so clearing your schedule as far as possible to accommodate the regime will help with reducing any potential stress.<\/p>\n

Even before the official day one of treatment, some stimulation protocols require the administration of infections in the previous cycle, after ovulation. These daily hormonal injections help to suppress your normal cycle and allow medical management of your cycle and ovulation once treatment begins. Depending on the stimulation protocol used, these drugs will be administered later, while the stimulation treatment takes place.<\/p>\n

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How painful are IVF injections?<\/h3>\n

It really does depend. For some people an injection is a simple matter and any slight discomfort is over within a few seconds. For others the pain can feel more severe and it can often be made worse by anxiety. It also depends on the type of injection. Sub-cutaneous injections, made into the layer of fat between skin and muscle, are the simplest and least painful. Intramuscular injections, in which a longer needle is needed to deliver the medication directly into a muscle, can be more painful for some, but not intensely so.<\/p>\n

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How to<\/strong> cope with any<\/strong> pain<\/strong> from IVF injections<\/h3>\n

Planning ahead and giving yourself time to prepare in a leisurely and calm manner is the most important thing you can do to reduce the pain potential. Other tips that people have found helpful are:<\/p>\n