| Before you begin the ovarian stimulation phase of | | | | The thought of giving yourself shots might seem |
| the IVF cycle, you will need to use an injectible | | | | terrifying at first, but delivering subcutaneous |
| gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist | | | | injections is easy. Your doctor will teach you how to |
| (GnRH-agonist) called Lupron. The aim of ovarian | | | | deliver the shots before the protocol begins, or you |
| stimulation is to stimulate the growth of several | | | | can ask a nurse to help you out during the first day |
| follicles in order to increase the number of eggs for | | | | of your Lupron protocol. Here is an example of |
| fertilization. GnRH-agonists like Lupron are designed to | | | | instructions you may be given: |
| suppress the pituitary gland's natural tendency to | | | | |
| allow only one follicle to mature in each cycle. At the | | | | 1. Clean the injection site with a cotton ball and |
| same time, a Lupron IVF protocol prevents the | | | | rubbing alcohol. Subcutaneous injections are usually |
| ovaries from ovulating at an inconvenient time during | | | | administered on the belly, one inch away from the |
| the cycle. Useful as Lupron might be, this drug is very | | | | belly button. Your injection site should be free of |
| expensive and is known to cause uncomfortable | | | | scars and bumps, and should change every day to |
| menopause-like side effects. | | | | avoid irritating the skin. Wait for the alcohol to dry. |
| The function of Lupron in IVF | | | | 2. Load the Lupron onto the syringe. Hold the syringe |
| In order to understand how Lupron works, we need | | | | with the needle facing up and tap the sides gently to |
| a quick review of how ovulation occurs. Ovulation | | | | get rid of air bubbles. Press the syringe slowly until |
| takes place when the pituitary gland produces a high | | | | you see a tiny drop on the tip of the needle. |
| level of estrogen, which triggers the release the | | | | 3. Pinch an inch of the skin around the injection site. |
| luteinizing hormone (LH). The increase in LH levels | | | | This separates the fatty tissue from the muscular |
| causes the mature egg to pop out of the follicle (in | | | | layer. |
| an IVF cycle, the hCG trigger shot replaces the LH | | | | 4. Position the syringe like a dart and inhale deeply. |
| surge). The fertility drugs used during an IVF cycle | | | | When you exhale, insert the needle all the way |
| cause an increase in estrogen levels, and the risk of | | | | through at a 90 degree angle. As soon as the |
| an unwanted LH surge is high. Premature LH surges | | | | needle's entire length is in, release the skin. |
| are responsible for 10% of cycle cancellations | | | | 5. Slowly press on the syringe until every single drop |
| because they release eggs that are too immature to | | | | of the drug is gone. |
| be fertilized. Thus, a GnRH-agonist like Lupron is | | | | 6. Remove the needle and sanitize the injection site |
| needed to prevent the pituitary gland from producing | | | | with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol. |
| estrogen and triggering the LH surge. | | | | Costs of Lupron |
| Lupron protocols are suited according to every | | | | Ten injections of Lupron (at 3.75 mg per injection) |
| patient's unique needs, but the typical protocol begins | | | | can cost as much as $3,000 without insurance. To |
| seven days before your next period. The drug | | | | reduce the costs of Lupron, you can make an appeal |
| comes in injections that you need to administer | | | | to your insurance company and request for them to |
| subcutaneously, on the layer underneath the skin. | | | | cover the costs of fertility drugs. Most |
| Lupron shots must be taken every day until you | | | | pharmaceutical companies also have patient |
| take the hCG trigger shot, or until your doctor tells | | | | assistance programs that allow patients to use some |
| you to stop. | | | | drugs for little or no costs. |
| Administering Lupron shots | | | | |