I have always been terrified of needles and shots, to the point where I get extremely anxious even at the thought of having to take medication via injection. I know there are options between medicated treatments and natural remedies, but I can’t seem to shake off the fear of needles.
Has anyone else struggled with this fear and found a way to overcome it or chosen alternative treatments? I would love to hear your experiences and advice on managing this fear while considering different medication options. Thank you in advance for any insights you can share!
I attempted the modified natural cycle twice, but it was very unpredictable and unfortunately both attempts were unsuccessful. However, the medicated cycle was much more controlled, and I didn’t mind the shots. I even switched to suppositories for the last two weeks, but went back to PIO for an extra week because I couldn’t tolerate the suppositories. My clinic typically has patients on PIO until week 8 (but I chose to continue until week 9 for convenience) and on suppositories until week 10, so it’s not a particularly lengthy treatment period.
I experienced a yeast infection during our first transfer due to my sensitive pH from using suppositories multiple times a day. The discharge was annoying. I found that using PIO once daily was much easier.
I initially tried PIO but experienced severe reactions, such as high fever, with two different formulations, so I switched to a modified natural cycle instead. My doctor had me use trigger shots for a few days to enhance my natural progesterone levels, as she believed that suppositories were not as effective as injections. It seems that natural cycles are becoming more common now, despite PIO being the standard. Although I had success with the natural cycle twice, I also had multiple unsuccessful transfers, which were likely due to embryo issues rather than the protocol. Suppositories are manageable, although they can be messy. Make sure to stock up on panty liners and replace them often.
I went through PIO injections, currently 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad. Towards the last week of injections, I developed knots on both sides but it was more of a hassle to work around them than painful. The first couple of shots were sore, which is expected when injecting into a muscle for the first time. I never used suppositories, just estrogen, which I disliked. I applied lidocaine 30 minutes before the injection, wiped it down 15 minutes before, and used a heating pad. My husband usually did the injections but there was a time I had to do it myself and I cried at my accomplishment. I cried at my last shot too. Good luck with your decision!
Overcoming my needle phobia to take two injections a day for my pregnancy was a challenge, but ultimately a rewarding experience. PIO was less painful than other medications, and although I grew tired of the process after 10 weeks, I believe it was worth it in the end. Consider all the pros and cons of injections and don’t be too afraid of them. With proper technique and preparation, you may not feel a thing. My husband did it for me at first and I didn’t even notice.
I actually prefer the medicated cycle over the natural one. The natural cycle caused mood swings, headaches, and overall feeling awful. The medicated cycle has been much easier for me. I initially did a natural cycle because I was afraid of the PIO injections, but now I wish I had done the medicated cycle from the start. I am currently 6 days post-transfer and testing positive for the first time in 2 years of fertility treatments. I don’t mind the PIO injections, especially with the auto injector. The injection itself doesn’t hurt, although I have experienced some bruising when injecting closer to the middle. Injecting in the outer hip has been no problem for me. I find that using a hot shower or heating pad afterwards helps.
I’m not sure what you mean by “natural”. Taking any medication would not be considered natural in my opinion. However, I took birth control for about 2 weeks, followed by estrace orally for a couple of weeks and PIO injections for 10 weeks in total. Despite the annoyance of the PIO shots, I had a successful first transfer. I had some discomfort in my buttocks until about 6 months pregnant. I plan to follow the same treatment plan for my next transfer.
We used letrozole for a modified natural cycle and I really enjoyed it. Injecting needles is not my thing, so using suppositories was a much more pleasant experience. I found it easy to wear a panty liner during the day and hardly noticed them. I also appreciated not having to be on estrogen, as it always made me feel terrible. I had a successful outcome and have finished my treatment at the clinic, but if I had to do it again, I would definitely choose modified natural cycle once more.
I experienced a significant improvement in my well-being when partially medicated compared to being fully medicated. Despite both methods failing, I found that the estrogen in the fully medicated treatment made me mentally unwell and the PIO made me physically miserable. My semi-medicated approach included mini stims and progesterone suppositories.
I initially tried a modified natural protocol but switched to PIO after hearing negative feedback about suppositories. Unfortunately, PIO caused severe pain and discomfort after just one night. Thankfully, I was able to switch back to suppositories without any issues. Although they were bothersome, they were manageable. I feel fortunate to have had the option to switch and wonder what I would have done in a fully medicated cycle.
PIO may be a bit of a hassle, but it’s manageable and you adapt quickly. In my experience, PIO shots were less painful and caused less bruising compared to stim shots. However, there was some cumulative soreness with PIO that I didn’t have with stims. Overall, it’s a trade-off. I personally found it manageable enough that it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. For future transfers, I may opt for a fully medicated cycle due to a thin lining that required extra time and medication to thicken. Both fully medicated and modified natural cycles have their pros and cons, so it’s worth discussing with your doctor to determine the best option for you.
I am currently undergoing PIO injections. I rely on a heating pad for warmth before and after administering the injections. I use an auto injector for the process. While the injections are generally painless, I do experience painful lumps afterward which feel like large bruises. They are tender to the touch but manageable.
I have never used PIO before and have still experienced success. It is the one aspect of the process that I choose to control. If desired, you can request to use suppositories three times a day during a fully medicated cycle.
We found that the natural modified cycle was much more preferable for us compared to the medicated cycles we had, which were canceled. It was a better experience with fewer pills, fewer shots, and allowing the body to function as intended. Testing for progesterone was also less of a concern. Unfortunately, the medicated cycle resulted in a chemical pregnancy, but with the current natural modified cycle, we are almost 10 weeks along. However, the success can mostly be attributed to testing of embryos.
There are numerous advantages to using modified natural methods, including a reduced risk of placental issues and potentially higher success rates.
I hope they would allow me to choose modified natural for a lower risk of preeclampsia and other issues due to the naturally occurring corpus luteum. My fully medicated FET cycle starts tomorrow (removed my NuvaRing today), wish me luck! My doctor would have allowed it if I pushed for it, but it would have delayed us another month. Since we are paying month to month for cobra coverage to extend fertility benefits, the extra $2100 cobra payment didn’t make sense, so I decided to try the medicated approach instead.
I wasn’t excited about using PIO, but with proper warm-up and massage before and after, it wasn’t bad. Despite not being strict about it, I managed to stay on top of it. When I was finally able to stop after my failed transfer, it felt like forever. But the attitude changes quickly when a viable pregnancy is possible. I wasn’t offered a natural transfer due to my condition, but I understand both options have pros and cons. Don’t let PIO alone sway your decision, but there are risks with fully medicated approaches. Whatever you choose will be great, just don’t let PIO be the deciding factor!
Modified natural cycles have a slightly higher success rate because your body will ovulate and form corpus luteum, which produces essential hormones needed to prevent complications like pre-eclampsia. Without these hormones, the risks increase significantly, which is why some prefer modified natural cycles over medicated FET. I also prefer suppositories over PIO shots due to their convenience and ease of use.
I have found PIO to be relatively easy without any complications. I don’t use heat, sit on a heating pad, or massage it. I simply draw it up, change the needle, and inject it. I experienced some soreness at first but now I feel fine. I haven’t experienced any lumps and felt normal even with high estrogen levels. I just want to share my positive experience, as some may be hesitant to do so when others are struggling.