How to Administer HCG Injections

People may need help from the medical community in order to become pregnant. There are many different kinds of assisted reproductive techniques. Many forms of assisted reproduction involve administration of hCG. HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is commonly used to induce a woman's eggs to ripen so they can be fertilized. Many hCG injections are given at home. Proper administration is essential to help the medication work and reduce the pain that often accompanies an injection.

Things You'll Need

• Alcohol wipes
• 22-gauge syringe
• Vial containing water
• Vial containing hCG
• 26-gauge syringe
• Ice

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Instructions

• 1

  Make sure you have the right dosage. Most hCG injections are administered in either 5,000 or 10,000 units. Call your doctor or nurse to confirm the dosage if you don't see it written down.

• 2

  Open the caps of the bottles. Open the syringe package. Wipe the tops of the bottles and the syringe with alcohol to ensure it is sterilized. Wash your hands.

• 3

  Make sure you know which vial contains water and which one contains hCG. Fill the 22-gauge syringe with the correct dosage of water. The amount of water used may depend on the dose of hCG you are using. Make sure you know how much water to use. Remove the needle from the vial of liquid. Hold it carefully.

• 4

  Tap the side of the needle to remove air bubbles. Look at it closely to make sure that you do not see any visible air between the liquid and the top of the needle.

• 5

  Push the needle into the vial holding the powder. Press it to release the water into the powder so you can mix the hCG properly. Leave the needle in the mixture. Swirl the mixture gently without removing the needle from the vial. Remove the syringe from the powder mixture.

• 6

  Switch out needles. You should use a 22-gauge needle to mix the hCG and a 26-gauge needle to administer the medication.

• 7

  Ice the area where the needle will be inserted. Icing can help reduce pain. Gently squeeze about an inch of flesh from the side of the person's hip. You should have a target area roughly an inch in diameter. Wipe this area with alcohol. Holding the needle perpendicular, plunge it in with a smooth quick motion. Hold the needle in place for 10 seconds. Remove the needle as quickly as you can and press down on the person's skin. Massage the area to promote absorption of the medication.