4 replies to this topic

[bump_fever]

Hello all,

DH has started on HCG injections and the process has been interesting so far. He doesn't discuss it much, and probably chooses to grin and bare it, but I wonder what effects he is hiding from me. He has a pretty good welt from the first 2 injections and a nice bruise from the 3rd. I'm an RN and doing the injections for him, so I'm not concerned about the technique. The HCG package is for Intramuscular use only, but our FS ordered Subcu (which happens a lot in pharmaceuticals) so I imagine a lot of it is irritation to the tissues.

Anyone else doing or have done HCG injections? I have a feeling this is going to be an awful 3.5 month wait for the both of us. Please god these injections do something, or he'll never trust me again!! KMFX

[Merry33]

I found that HCG was the one drug that irritated my skin the most (when I used it as an IVF trigger), so it doesn't surprise me. Interestingly my DH never had that problem though. I think it just really depends on the person. He could try taking an allergy pill a few hours before the injection. This usually helped me with the shots that caused me skin reactions.

 

To be honest I don't really feel all that bad for DH. I think his bi-weekly injections are really nothing compared to what I went through doing IVF cycles. And I think he knows that too and therefore never complains. He also doesn't complain because he was the one who wanted this.

To be brutally honest I never really anticipated that the HCG injections would do much with regards to his IF issues. It's more like "well, we're done with everything else, might as well do this since it's fairly easy to do". He also just wanted to get his testosterone levels up. And I know that HCG usually does achieve that; not so much evidence for improving sperm count though (at least for severe male infertility) unless the issue is in the pituitary.

[BrandyRelaxing]

Did the pharmacy adjust the mix ratio?  I know when my hubby went on it (subQ too), the pharmacy changed the liquid to powder ratio so that it was less liquid.  I don't recall what dosage he was on, but it may be an irritation because it is so much fluid under the skin.

[BrandyRelaxing]

Also, just read your signature, there is a group on Baby N Bump that is focused on Azoospermia, and are an awesome group, if you haven't discovered it already, feel free to have a read through.

 

http://babyandbump.m...zoospermia.html

[bump_fever]

Thanks BrandyRelaxing, I'll check it out! The pharmacy never gave any directions for mixing and told me a nurse would call to discuss all the teaching. I told them it was ok, that I was an RN and comfortable with the deal. I tired 0.5ml and 0.25 ml injections and getting the same reaction. We are still trialling sites and find the abdomen the most sensitive and the arms not too bad.

 

Merry33, how long did your DH take HCG? Was there any sperm improvement after?