IVF injections: The realities and tips to navigate them during a busy social calendar

IVF injections are no joke, and unless you’ve been through it, they can be daunting, especially when you need to administer them during a busy social schedule.,You can find yourself shooting up in all sorts of places; work, summer BBQ’s, house parties, weddings. Life stops for no TTC wo(man). If you’re considering IVF or even egg freezing and wondering what those injections actually involve, keep reading. 

First, a little note from Tess: 
“I was at a house party last weekend, and a woman who was far too cool to talk to me came out of the loo at midnight, adjusting her shirt. She gets herself a glass of water, plops down on the couch next to me and says without skipping a beat, "just did my last injection for this IVF cycle."

Not the kind of shooting up in the bathroom I was expecting at this party, honestly.

In that moment, I thought a lot about the quiet strength and gritty tenacity it takes to go through egg freezing and IVF.”

Now, deep breath, you've got this. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect, what’s normal, and what to do if you’re not exactly thrilled about becoming your own personal injection nurse. 

Over roughly two weeks, you’ll be giving yourself daily hormone injections to help your ovaries grow multiple eggs. Medications like Gonal-F, Menopur, or Cetrotide are your new sidekicks, with a final “trigger shot” to get the eggs ready for collection. During this time, your clinic will bring you in for ultrasound monitoring scans (and sometimes blood tests) to track the progress.

Now, let’s talk side effects. Bloating, mood swings, tender boobs and headaches are unfortunately considered common side effects from the hormone medication. A more rare risk is OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome), which is when your ovaries produce too many follicles, leading to severe bloating pain and fluid build-up. Your clinic will monitor you closely to avoid that. This is one to keep an eye on as you move through your social life, listen to your body and duck out if you need to. Nobody will mind. 

Worried about the injections? You’re not alone. Many patients have that moment of staring at the needle thinking, “Wait… I’m supposed to stab myself?!” but it’s totally doable. Pro tip: ice the area to numb it, pinch the skin and go slowly. Alternating injection sites can help with bruising, and a little self-pep talk (or dramatic Grey’s Anatomy theme music) never hurts. Most people find their rhythm after the first couple of jabs. 

Keep your meds stored correctly, set reminders so you don’t miss a dose (key during those busy months), and always dispose of used needles in a sharps bin if you can (not the kitchen bin… no judgment, just saying).

You’re doing something big and brave - and it's okay to laugh, cry, and be a little terrified along the way. Talk to your friends, be open and check in with yourself as you move through the weeks of injections. If you have questions or need support, we’re just an email away.