PIO Survival Guide Tips & Tricks

I have yet to meet anyone that says they enjoy the PIO shot part of the infertility journey, and no wonder…they are miserable. When I did them in 2020 for my son’s transfer I barely made it the whole 12 weeks. I was in so much pain, my body was sore and stiff, I had huge welts and knots and broke out in a horrible itchy rash. Along the way I have found some things that make the whole thing just a bit better and this time, while only a week in, I’m not minding them one bit. Now let’s just hope that it stays that way!

1. Get yourself this auto injector! While you can do it yourself or have your partner or someone else do them for you, this thing is a game changer! It makes sure the injection goes in at a 90 degree angle and at the correct speed, making the injection completely pain free. I actually do not feel it at all most times. My husband still does them for me every day so he can be involved, but he uses the auto injector to do it!
   

2. Ask for a smaller needle, I use a 25g 1.5” needle rather than the standard 22g. I tend to bruise easily, so while it does take a bit longer to inject with the smaller needle, it has significantly cut down on the bruising and soreness, so to me, the 10 extra seconds is totally worth it!
   

3. Buy a heating pad. The other key here is to use heat. Lay on the heating pad for about 10 minutes prior to the injection, this will help loosen the muscle and will allow the oil to spread more evenly. I also heat up the syringe for about a minute on the heating pad, the warmer oil injects more easily and quicker.
   

4. Have cortisone cream and women’s briefs or boxer shorts on hand. This was a big one for me last time and I’m prepared this time. When I started breaking out in the welts and rash, anything touching or rubbing my skin, including my traditional bikini underwear, felt like sand paper and caused a burning sensation. Using cortisone cream helped to sooth the area and nice silky briefs covered the area entirely without rubbing on the irritated or sore spots.
   

5. Inject standing up. I found that doing the injections standing up to be more comfortable than laying down. I will lean lightly against a dresser or kitchen counter with my leg up and knee bent on the side that is being injected. This takes all weight off of that muscle and helps it to relax, making the injection more comfortable.
   

6. Have band aids ready in case you have a bleeder.
   

7. Massage and more heat! After the injection, have your partner gently massage the area, or buy a roller ball massager like this to do it yourself. This will help to spread the oil, loosen the area and prevent knots. Then apply more heat for another 10-20 minutes. You can buy a battery operated cordless heat pad like this if needed!
   

8. If you do have a bad reaction, ask your doctor about a different formulation. The standard oil is a sesame oil, however there are others out there like olive. There are also suppositories that can be used daily. Be warned however that your insurance might not cover a different formulation and you will have to pay out of pocket.
   

Remember they won’t last forever. I know they are not fun, but in the end it’s totally worth it!