By the time you read this, you have probably gone for counselling and know all the answers to your questions!!
But, to answer your questions, I had to have one needle a day, and they honestly don't hurt. They are sooooo tiny in width. So long as you don't hit a nerve (which has only happened to me once or twice), you wouldn't know they are even in. If your pretty anxious, I would suggest getting someone else to do them for you as it does take a bit of courage to jab yourself - but in saying that, once you've done it, you wonder what all the nervousness was about. I inject usually in the upper thighs (probably while watching telly as I have them at night - this time is the only consistent time I can do them), but I have recently been doing in my copious belly 8-[ and have never had one that hurts.
It depends a bit on what type of IVF treatment you are on as to what drugs you may get and how you are instructed to take them. Almost always you have to start on the pill, which seems odd, but I believe it is to largely space patients out, so they don't get heaps of ladies coming in on the same day needing their eggs harvested.
For my 3 IVF attempts, I was on 3 different drug regimes. But basically the first 2 involved starting on the pill x amount of days after my next period, then so many days later start on Synarel (1 puff 2 times a day 12hours apart). Then after another set period of time, start on the injections. I had Gonal-F and the dose got higher with each subsequent IVF. It is a bit of a trial the first time round to see how your ovaries react to the drugs - they may under perform, over perform or be ok. Mine were a little low the first time (6 eggs harvested).
Then after a couple of scans, the doc will decide when to harvest the eggs based on the follicle size. You stop taking the Gonal-F (or whatever) and then at the exact time the nurse (who will ring you) tells you to have the trigger injection (god...can't remember the name of this one...get back to you on that) you have it. I always got hubby to give me this one in the bum as it does sting a bit (something to do with the carrier fluid).
Then about 36 hours later, you are in hospital having your eggs harvested. At the Freemasons, I was only sedated for the harvest so for the first one I was conscious the whole time. For the second one, they knocked me out part way through cause it was a bit painful. The third time (different anaethitists every time) they knocked me out as soon as I got on the table. But at the Freemasons, they allowed my hubby into surgery every time - whether I was conscious or not. They had lovely conversations while I was out to it. As we are dairy farmers and do our own inseminations on cows, no doubt they were comparing techniques!!
But I don't think Melb IVF let hubbys into surgery. Dunno...haven't asked!
The last cycle though, I was doing an antagonist cycle and that involved a few more injections in order to stop the eggs releasing before they were ready to harvest. So for about 4 - 5 days, I had 2 injections per day. Slightly different drug regime as well - no Syneral.
But believe me, the injections as really nothing to worry about.
Just got all my documents in todays mail about my lap next week. Have to fill them out and get them back to Nick.
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