Giving Yourself IVF Medication

It seems like everyone I know is struggling to get pregnant. Their heart wants a baby, and for whatever reason, their body is against making it happen.

It spans all demographics. Living with endometriosis, it feels like so many of our endo sisters are on this fertility journey with us too.

Having endometriosis doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll struggle to get pregnant. Some get pregnant without any issues.

Many of us, though, need the help of a medical fertility team to make our baby dreams come true.

Infertility options

Thankfully there are longstanding options for fertility treatments like:

• Medication
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)

The third option of IVF is really in a league of its own.

It’s so involved and intense that the patient is often assigned an IVF coordinator. This person is designated to ensure that you’re following all the steps in the protocol at the exact time it’s prescribed. Some medications are precise to the exact hour that they need to be taken.

Talk about pressure!

Giving IVF injections to yourself

But it’s the moment when you’re at home and realize that you have to give yourself medication through an injection that can really be overwhelming. Some of the medications are preloaded syringes, and you need to inject them.

Other times you’re asked to mix the medication yourself. It feels like you’re setting up your own pharmacy on your kitchen table and saying a prayer that you get it right.

I consider myself to be pretty savvy when it comes to managing my health, but this was way out of my comfort zone.

So many of us stand there asking, “Am I really qualified to do this?" Most of us don’t have a medical background.

If you find yourself in this moment, here are some resources to help.

Feeling confident in administering IVF medication

Many of the medications used for IVF are ordered through specialty pharmacies. Those pharmacies often have a pharmacist that you can call 24/7 to answer any questions that you may have about the medication.

This can be extremely helpful, even if it’s just confirmation and reassurance that you’re doing all the right things.

Another great resource is YouTube. I know it sounds outrageous to get medical advice on something so advanced as IVF treatments on a platform like YouTube. However, many pharmacies and even pharmaceutical companies have their own channel with how-to videos that walk you through every step of the process.

As a visual learner, I love this option. I play the video and pause it to replicate it step by step.

The other option that can be really helpful is to be part of a community of people who are going through the process with you. Many online communities can help.

Although our main focus here is endometriosis, this often goes hand-in-hand with a fertility journey. In other words, your endo sisters get it.

Online communities are a great place to get encouragement and emotional support. It’s not a place for medical advice but a place where you can get the hugs your heart needs from your fellow endo sisters.