What to Know About Doing Fertility Injections at Home

(Including when and how to ask for help)

By Leyla Bilali, BSN, RN
Fertility Nurse and Cofounder of Dandi Fertility

For many people undergoing IVF for the first time, one of the biggest surprises is how much treatment actually happens at home. While the actual egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures take place in the clinic, much of the preparation involves fertility medications that patients administer themselves.

A typical egg retrieval cycle often requires 8–12 days of daily subcutaneous injections (shots just under the skin in the fatty tissue). And many embryo transfer cycles require daily intramuscular injections, which are given deeper into a muscle in the buttocks.

Seeing a full box of fertility medications arrive at your door for the first time can be intimidating to say the least! The number of vials and syringes alone is often overwhelming. Fortunately, a little preparation can go a long way to make at home injections more manageable.

From getting organized to getting comfortable with needles, here are a few things I recommend to my patients as a fertility nurse, former fertility patient, and cofounder of a fertility injection care company.

Unboxing Your Fertility Medications

It’s a big day when that box of fertility meds arrives! Take a beat to review your medications as you unpack them. Getting organized is key to prevent stress down the road.

Start by reading through the medication instructions so you know which medications need to be refrigerated and which can be kept at room temperature.

Next, compare what you received with the medication list provided by your clinic. As you review your shipment, check not only the medications themselves but also the supplies that came with them. This may include syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, and (for some medications) mixing supplies. Different medications require different syringe sizes, so it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to confirm you have the correct ones for each medication!

Fertility medications are often shipped from specialty or mail-order pharmacies, which can make last-minute replacements difficult. Confirming you have everything you need before your first injection day can help to prevent a last minute scramble. Don’t forget to also check the expiration date on each medication once they arrive - especially if you’re not planning to start your cycle for a few weeks.

If you feel overwhelmed unboxing your shipment, that’s completely normal! At Dandi, we’ve had many customers book virtual consults to have a fertility nurse walk through the medications with them, just to make sure they’re storing them correctly and answer any questions along the way.

Understanding the two types of fertility injections

Most fertility treatment protocols involve two different types of injections, and understanding the difference can be helpful to ensure you’re injecting meds correctly.

Subcutaneous fertility injections

Subcutaneous injections are given just under the skin into the fatty tissue. These are the most common injections during ovarian stimulation.

Typical characteristics include:

• Short, very thin needles
• Usually less uncomfortable than deeper injections

Common injection sites include:

• The lower abdomen, a few inches away from the belly button
• The outer thigh (less commonly used)

Many patients rotate spots around the abdomen to minimize tenderness or bruising.

Intramuscular injections

Intramuscular injections are given deeper into a muscle, which is important for certain medications (for example, progesterone in oil shots) to be absorbed properly.

These injections typically involve:

• Longer/thicker needles
• Injection into muscle tissue
• Help from a partner or support person

The most common injection site is the upper outer portion of the buttock (gluteal muscle).

The larger size of the needle, the depth of the injection and the location can make intramuscular shots feel more intimidating. One of the most common challenges patients face is simply feeling confident about where the injection should go. And placement is key in avoiding more pain, soreness and adverse reactions.

Many clinics provide diagrams or mark the correct area during teaching sessions. Some patients also find it helpful to use placement aids such as Dandi Shot Targets (which, fun fact: we invented because a lot of clinics were using permanent marker to mark injection sites). Your clinic can use one of these nontoxic tattoos to frame the correct upper outer quadrant for intramuscular injections, taking some of the guesswork out of placement. This is especially helpful for the first few days of injections.

Your clinic should also provide specific guidance on:

• Which needle to use
• How to prepare the medication
• Exactly where to inject

If you’re unsure about placement or technique, you can call your clinic care team, or schedule a visit with a licensed fertility nurse to review it with you again.

Get familiar with your fertility medications

Once everything is organized, spend a little time reviewing each medication individually. It’s helpful to understand:

• How the medication is mixed (if required)
• How and where it is injected
• What the injection may feel like
• Common side effects to look out for

Many fertility clinics provide resources —either in person, by video, or through online modules—to walk you through the process step by step. It may be helpful to review these ahead of time.

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Adding injections to your calendar

Your clinician will usually provide a 2–3 hour window during which your medications should be taken each day. For example, if your evening window is 6–9 PM, you can administer your medications anytime within that timeframe. If your protocol includes morning and evening doses, you will receive a similar window for each.

One important exception is the “trigger shot.” This injection is typically assigned a very specific time because it directly coordinates with the timing of your egg retrieval procedure. When you receive your trigger instructions, it’s important to follow the exact timing provided by your clinic.

Temporary lifestyle adjustments

During stimulation for egg retrieval, your body is working hard to develop multiple follicles, and your ovaries will become enlarged and more sensitive. Because of this, clinics usually recommend temporarily avoiding high-impact or strenuous physical activities, such as:

• Running
• Cycling
• Sexual activity
• Boot camp or high-intensity workouts
• Heavy lifting
• Yoga inversions or deep twisting movements

Your clinic will also review guidance around diet, hydration, and other medications or supplements during treatment. Following these recommendations helps reduce the risk of complications and keeps your cycle progressing safely.

When to ask for help

Fertility treatment is a meaningful investment in many ways. The medications are often expensive, the schedules can be demanding, and the outcomes feel deeply important. It’s completely normal to feel pressure to “get everything right,” especially when medications require careful timing, mixing, or preparation before an injection.

Because of this, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to navigate questions or concerns on your own.

Even with good preparation, it’s very common for questions to come up once treatment begins. And if something doesn’t feel clear or you’re unsure about a step, reaching out for guidance can help prevent unnecessary stress and ensure everything stays on track.

Consider asking for help if you experience:

• Uncertainty about how to mix or prepare a medication
• Questions about how to administer an injection
• Difficulty with intramuscular injections or placement

And always reach out to your clinic if you experience:

• A missed or incorrect dose
• Significant pain, swelling, or unusual side effects
• Any situation where you feel unsure about what to do next

For the hours when clinic resources may not be available, Dandi offers a network of experienced fertility nurses who can guide you through medications virtually. In select geos, you may even be able to book hands on, in person support. Be sure to check your member portal to find exclusive discounts available to you through Sunfish!

A learning curve that gets easier with time

Fertility treatment is a real investment — of time, energy, finances, and hope. The anxiety about making sure you’re doing everything correctly is a natural part of that.

The good news is that most people do find a rhythm with their medications over time. With preparation, clear instructions, and practice, you may start to feel like a pro. It’s also okay if you continue to seek guidance, reassurance, or an extra set of experienced hands throughout treatment. That’s exactly why fertility nurses, support services, and educational resources exist — to help make this part of the process easier and less stressful!

If you ever feel unsure, don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek professional help. Having the right support can make a meaningful difference, and it helps ensure you’re getting the most out of the investment you’re making in your care.

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