If you’re new to IVF, it can be overwhelming. You may feel lost over the large number of IVF prescriptions provided through your doctor. Each medication serves a different purpose in order to help increase your chances of having a successful pregnancy. At the end of your cycle, you’ll be prescribed the HCG shot to stimulate ovulation prior to an egg retrieval procedure.
Preparing for the HCG Injection
The HCG shot is the final medication given before a scheduled egg retrieval. At the launch of a treatment cycle, FSH medications would’ve been used to assist in producing healthy and mature eggs. A fertility specialist would’ve monitored your progress via blood work measurements of your estrogen levels and ultrasounds to measure the size of the follicles produced. Since your doctor needs to control when you ovulate, LHRH agonists are prescribed to prevent surges of the luteinizing hormone. All of your IVF medications are typically stopped prior to the HCG injection.
Importance of Timing
Once you have a date and time for your egg retrieval, your fertility specialist will give you your instructions for the procedure. The doctor will let you know a very specific time to inject the HCG. Timing of the HCG injection usually takes place approximately 36 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time. During the 36 hours leading up to the egg retrieval, the medication will help finish maturing the follicles and prepare your body for ovulation.
In the past, it was believed the effectiveness of HCG increased when the IVF drug was given intramuscularly. New evidence suggests that HCG works the same if given subcutaneously (directly into the fatty layer of tissue below the skin’s surface).
Novarel and Pregnyl are two brand name medications prescribed to patients who require the HCG trigger shot. Patients are required to mix the powdered form of the medication with the sterile solution provided. At the time of the injection, remember to wash your hands and sterilize the injection site with an alcohol wipe. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container.
Make sure you use Novarel and Pregnyl as directed and report any side effects to your doctor. It is also important to let your doctor know if you missed the time of your dose.
More at http://ivfprescriptions.com
