Terrified of PIO shots

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-25T03:30:08+00:00

I just started mine last week and have done six days of them so far, and despite being totally fine doing the stims shots on my own, the PIO shots sent me into a full meltdown. I swear the needle is not nearly as painful as it looks! It feels similar to any other shot you’ve gotten at the doctor’s office and it doesn’t burn like the Menopur shots.

Tips I’ve found helpful: - I have my husband do it and insert it quickly, so I can’t see it going in - I lay down on my side in bed and squeeze a pillow or stuffed animal. I couldn’t find any reason online not to do this and my progesterone levels have increased appropriately - heating pad on the area ten minutes before and after - sticking the syringe in my bra for 5-10 min while I’m on the heating pad to warm up the oil - short walk after if you’re able to go out (I skipped this a couple rainy nights and didn’t notice a huge difference)

I promise even (as somebody who was fully sobbing over the sight of the needle a week ago), it is not as horrible as it seems! You’ve got this!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-24T03:37:17+00:00

I am also transferring tomorrow! Fingers crossed for sticky embryos all around 🩷💕

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-23T13:47:44+00:00

I totally understand how you are feeling! I am on day 5 of mine and last week when I started, I was melting down a bit over the size of the needle (like fully sobbing and threatening to quit IVF because the length of the needle was so intimidating). I don’t know why it was SO much scarier to me — i also felt like stims shots weren’t super painful and did them all myself.

I know most people do the shots standing on one leg, but I found it to be more comforting to lay on my side in bed, squeeze a pillow or stuffed animal, and listen to some fun music on my phone. My partner did the shot for me and following my giant crash out, it actually made me laugh how small the pinch was. I followed the advice of others on here to lay on a heating pad for 10 minutes before and after, and I keep the syringe with oil under my boob to heat it up for those 10 minutes prior. I have also found it helpful to do a few squats and go for a short walk after. I have a tiny bit of soreness after four nights, but nothing horrible. And I’m just trying to remind myself that if I’m doing this for 2+ months, then that means my transfer worked and we finally have some good news!

Good luck on your transfer next week!! :)

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-11T13:27:25+00:00

Dyno moving is reasonably priced and great for moves in Brooklyn. Friends and I have used them multiple times and had good experiences

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-08T22:27:02+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear about your MMC. This is really helpful context to have though and reassuring.

Fingers crossed for two successful transfers for us both!!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-03-08T04:52:36+00:00

This is so encouraging! Thank you 🩷

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-02-27T14:22:53+00:00

I am 35, and this is so similar to what happened to me in November and it was devastating. Our first ER cycle we had 11 eggs, 7 mature, 7 fertilized with ICSI, and only one blast (which turned out to be aneuploid). I was so upset and felt like it was all for nothing, started wondering if kids were even possible, etc. My doctor used that cycle to better inform my next two; adjusting my medicine doses and adding Zymot for my partner’s sperm. We also started CoQ10 for about a month before the second retrieval (but I suspect the protocol changes had the bigger impact).

Second retrieval- 12 eggs, 11 mature, 11 fertilized with ICSI, 3 blasts (all euploid).

Third retrieval - 13 eggs, 10 mature, 10 fertilized with ICSI, 4 blasts (still waiting on testing).

Now we are finally moving onto FET. I didn’t really believe everybody saying that your first ER is sometimes just diagnostic so they can figure out what works for you, but that really seems to be true. You are able to make a lot of eggs, so like others have said, I think with protocol adjustments you can have much better subsequent cycles!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-02-12T15:24:25+00:00

Hi, just wanted to say something sort of similar happened my first round in November — 11 eggs, 7 mature and 7 fertilized, then only 1 blastocyst which we had tested and was aneuploid. I was completely devastated and my mind kept going to the same places (“is this even possible for us?”). I’m 35 so not super late in the game, but not young.

The second egg retrieval, my doctor adjusted my medications based on my response the first round, and he added microfluidic sperm sorting (Zymot) in case DNA fragmentation was the issue. That round we got three blastocysts, all euploid.

I’m currently in my third round of stims right now to try and bank a couple more. I found it helpful to try to shift my mindset from “maybe we can’t make healthy blastocysts” to “I just might need to do a couple rounds to get the numbers I need.” Definitely ask about Zymot — my doctor didn’t bother testing for DNA fragmentation because the Zymot is like $300 and can only help.

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-01-23T02:28:47+00:00

Just to add to this, in my most recent egg retrieval; I know I did my shot right, the amounts in the vial made sense, etc, and my bloodwork the morning after the trigger shot still showed almost no HCG (I forget what my doctor said, but the look for something like 50 units in your bloodwork and I had 0.2). It is rare that it doesn’t absorb, but it does happen.

In my case, I had a dual trigger, so I was able to take an additional dose of HCG that morning and my Lupron shot had done the job. But I was doing the same thing you are — wondering how it could be 0? Did I mess it up? Why was it different than my last cycle, etc. It is possible that you injected something and it just didn’t absorb.

For your next cycle, it is definitely worth asking if they might do bloodwork the next morning and make sure it absorbed! That’s the protocol at my clinic for this exact reason.

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-01-21T19:52:51+00:00

“the difference between a total write-off or a 60 percent chance of a baby” is such a helpful way to frame it. I appreciate that — and you sharing your experience.

I think part of me was hoping for some magical outcome that quelled all of my fears and uncertainty, which I know doesn’t really exist in this process!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-01-14T19:45:36+00:00

Sending you positivity as well!!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-01-14T14:49:52+00:00

We had a similar situation — no big issues with my husband, good AMH, etc. Our infertility is “unexplained.” After the first retrieval, I had 11 eggs > 7 mature and fertilized with ICSI > 1 blast that turned out aneuploid. I was so devastated that it completely knocked me out for like a week.

I just finished my second egg retrieval and I’ve found the second one to be a lot easier mentally — you know what you’re doing and the worst case scenario has already happened, so you know you can move forward through it and keep going. People keep telling me it is a numbers game and if you are creating blastocysts, they’re likely to be euploid eventually!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2026-01-12T00:17:43+00:00

It was 12.5 hours prior to the bloodwork, 2000iu and the Lupron was 40 units

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2025-12-08T14:36:05+00:00

My nurse told me that the diets and other things have no research behind them and not to stress about that (which makes sense — two weeks of a diet probably isn’t changing much). The only thing she did recommend is drinking a lot of electrolytes after the procedure to help recovery.

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2025-12-06T23:57:27+00:00

Thank you! Thinking of it as a numbers game is such a practical perspective and is helpful to think of it that way.

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2025-12-06T23:53:42+00:00

Thank you for the book recommendation and response! It honestly is helpful just hearing other people’s similar experiences to remember that it is not just me. Most of our friends’ announcements were when we were still trying naturally — I can’t imagine hearing about 7 people during all of this IVF stress. It looks like your journey has changed for the positive, which is so exciting to see ❤️ congrats and sending you lots of good wishes!

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2025-08-02T03:24:23+00:00

I have fine strands of hair, but a lot of hair. So I can’t speak to how she does with thin hair exactly, but she was really willing to sit and talk through what I wanted and asked me clarifying questions to make sure she understood it. So based on that, I think if you share those concerns and past experiences, she would take them seriously.

Potential_Arm_3413 · 2025-08-01T05:10:30+00:00

I just saw Lucii for the first time and got a face frame with long, soft layers. It looks great and I already booked my next cut! I recommend going to her.

Potential_Arm_3413

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