Progesterone In Oil (PIO) Shots

I have been *dreading* these shots as I have heard and read from others they are horrid and perhaps the worst part of the entire IVF process. And even when you google "progesterone in oil shots" the suggested searches are "tips" "side effects" and "pain." Yikes!

So I don't want to jinx myself here but we are having zero problems with the PIO shots.  I will share my "technique" in case it helps.

• Proper State of Mind

This is the same needle as the retreival trigger shot so we are all used to that by now. Or at least I am after having 5 rounds/5 shots. So really this is old hat. Or at least this is what we tell ourselves.

Carrie: My proper state of mind is zen. I am going to do everything in my power to make this as easy as I can. This is a needle I have had many times before. I know it is quick. I know it is for the baby/babies. The universe is not asking too much of me to endure this shot.

Chris: I need a beer to give this shot. It is getting better though. I hate the idea I am hurting Carrie. <--- This is so sweet. The shot for the recipient is just a quick jab. I really think it is harder for the person giving the shot!

• Set the Scene

Clean up your counter and nicely lay out everything you'll need. For me this includes a papertowel with sharps container in upper right, 3 alcohol wipe packets vertically along the left, PIO sitting at the top, and a cotton square.

• Location Location Location!

I popped into the clinic and Nurse Rachel drew happy face "targets" on me. It is important to administer the injection in the right place. Medically speaking, if you inject anywhere into your hiney the medicine still goes in which is the important thing-it will just be very uncomfortable sitting. So have your clinic draw targets, one on each side of you so you can rotate shots (one night on the left, the next night on the right, and so on).

• Injection

I warm* the target area with a heating pad while Chris fills the syringe with oil (it is pretty hard to draw up). He changes the needle tip then keeps the syringe enclosed in his first. I heat my target and he warms the oil for about 5 minutes. I swab the area, it's go time! I nook myself into where our countertops make a soft corner. I put the weight on the side of my body that *isn't* getting the shot. Sometimes even lifting my injection-side foot off the ground a bit. This helps to keep those muscles totally relaxed which helps afterwards. Chris talks me through the entire thing. I remind him always, "90 degree angle." He counts up to three, very occassionally having to restart the count like when you are young and learning to dive (;

*During injection training months ago before we began Round 1 Nurse Rachel told us icing the injection site beforehand actually causes the skin to tighten making it harder for the needle to break the surface thus potentially more painful. She is the expert. She does this for a living. I have not iced so can't speak to it.

• Post-Injection

He removes the needle and presses an acohol swab onto the injection site (the cotton square is there in case there is blood which there hasn't been since the first time). He kisses my lower back every single time which I find endlessly sweet. He gently massages the injection site for about a minute. We clean up the counter and go for a walk. Even just 20 minutes. Just like keeping the muscles relaxed during injection I read exercising them a bit after helps.

Maybe I am just lucky but the above has been a recipe for success and might be for you too!

UPDATE: After becoming pregnant from my successful embryo transfer I continued PIO shots for a few weeks. Those weeks I was exhausted. I come home from work and fall asleep. Chris would wake me up to take the shot and then I would fall right back asleep. "Going for a walk" was not an option (: And I did not suffer any consequences aside from a very occasional sore hip injection-site rolling over in bed.