If you are undergoing or are going to undergo your IVF treatments, the first step will be the IVF injections. IVF injections are hormonal injections that will help your ovaries produce more eggs for egg retrieval.
You will most likely stop taking your IVF injections after egg retrieval. However, in some cases, your fertility doctor will recommend you continue taking the injections even after embryo transfer.
If your doctor has also asked you to continue taking the injections after embryo transfer, this article will help you understand the reason behind it.
Purpose Of IVF Injections After Embryo Transfer
During the start of the IVF treatments, you will be required to regularly take IVF injections. These injections stimulate the ovaries to grow more follicles and produce more mature eggs than it does normally.
The eggs are retrieved when the follicles are close to ovulation. After ovulation, your body naturally produces progesterone hormones. These hormones thicken the endometrium and facilitate implantation.
If, by chance, your body does not produce enough progesterone, it can affect the chances of embryo implantation and development. Thus, you will be given estrogen and progesterone injections to develop the endometrial lining and improve the chances of pregnancy.
You will be asked to start these injections around the time of ovulation and continue it till 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. After this stage, your placenta will take over and start producing the progesterone hormones. So you can stop the injections.
Note: In case of IVF failure, you can stop your injections after consulting your fertility doctor. You will likely get your period a few days after stopping the injections.
Types Of IVF Injections Used After Embryo Transfer
During your ovulation induction stage, you will be given two to three types of injections to grow mature eggs. However, after egg retrieval, you will most likely only be administered progesterone supplements.
In some cases, you might also be given estrogen supplements to increase your chances of pregnancy. Let’s look at what both injections help with your pregnancy.
Progesterone
As we discussed above, your body naturally produces progesterone after ovulation to prepare your endometrium for embryo implantation. If your body does not produce enough progesterone, you can take progesterone injections.
These injections will maintain your uterine lining, increase your pregnancy rate, and also provide early pregnancy support to your body.
Estrogen
Estrogen can sometimes be supplemented with progesterone. This depends on each patient’s specific needs. Your fertility doctor will assess your condition and determine whether you need additional supplementation.
If you are averse to injections and want to know if there are other ways you can supplement your body with progesterone, yes, there are other methods.
- Vaginal suppositories: These are plugs that can be inserted inserted into the vagina. They melt and release progesterone slowly over time.
- Vaginal gels: Vaginal gels are applied to your vagina, and they release progesterone into the uterus through the vaginal wall.
Which Time Is Best For IVF Injections?
There is no right time when it comes to taking your IVF injections. The specific time, either morning or evening, does not affect your IVF treatment. Here are some tips you can follow to get the maximum effects of the procedure.
- Be consistent with your injections. Whether in the morning or evening, ensure you take your injections at the same time every day. This can help you maintain a stable hormone level.
- It is best to consult your doctor and take injections when they recommend that you do so. This will keep you from wondering when to take your injections.
Why Choose Me For Your IVF Treatments?
Are you looking to undergo IVF treatments for your infertility issues? Then, you must choose the best infertility doctor in your area to treat your infertility and help you get pregnant.
With 11+ years of experience and a track record of successful IVF pregnancies, Dr. Rukkayal is the fertility specialist you need to visit for your IVF treatments.
Conclusion
IVF injections after embryo transfer will be prescribed to you only after your doctor determines that they can help increase your chances of pregnancy. Taking injections for a long period of time can be annoying and painful.
However, understand that you are doing it for your baby, and bear with it for some weeks. The end result (your baby) will be worth all the effort you put in during your IVF treatments.
You will most likely start taking your fertility medications from day 2 or 3 after your period. You will be taking them regularly for about 8–14 days till ovulation and egg retrieval.
You will be given progesterone and, sometimes, estrogen medications after an embryo transfer. These medications will help prepare your endometrium for implantation and support embryo development.
Missing IVF injections for several days in a row can become a problem. However, missing it for one day won’t have much effect on your egg development.
Here are some tips you can follow to make your IVF injections easier.
- Relax your muscles
- Change your injection site occasionally
- Use an ice pack to numb your muscles
- Pinch the area before giving the injection
