I believe 2 things-first that menopur makes my poor brain just ache, and second-there is no injection easier to prep, administer and handle in my body in this whole IVF process than the Gonal-F pen.
In comparison to the mix and then administer Gonal-F :
and any other injections where you have to reconstitute the product then administer it with a 27 or 25 gauge needle. The gauge of the Gonal-F pen’s, which are 29-and trust me 2 sizes is a world of difference and makes this whole process not nearly as sucky.
I was spoiled.
The very first injection I did was with a Follistim pen, then the Gonal F pens (both 29 gauge needles)-I had no idea why so many women online were complaining about how painful injections were, and showing their stomachs all full of bruises just a few days into the stimming process.
I truly thought they were just bad at adminstering the shot-I had not a single bruise on me after 12 days of injections on my last IVF cycle (which was only Gonal-F).
Now I get it.
Some insurance companies must really suck and not give you the choice, or your RE is a loser and has no idea the huge difference between prescribing the same med only one comes with a thicker gauged needle and the other a tiny one-either way you should know if ever you find yourself going through IVF-request the pens. I suspect if every RE had to physically go through this process themselves, they would never prescribe anything but them!
I inject the menopur with a 27 gauge needle, in comparison to the gonal f pen which is a 29.
The proof is in the pudding (literally my belly is like pudding)-
There are no bruises, or even red dots to point to from the 3 Gonal-F injections I’ve done so far-but three nice sized welts from the menopur.
Dear Baby Jesus,
Please let me grow chromosomally normal eggs exceedingly quickly so that I can stop with this nonsense and move on to jamming estrogen pills and progesterone into my vjay to make me insanely sick for 2 weeks.
Amen.
AlexMMR said:
Can you swap out the needle from the syringe for a smaller gauge? We use 18 gauge to pull the medication in the syringe, then he swaps out the tip for a smaller gauge (we use 25, but I’m gonna ask for smaller this round).
B said:
I asked-and was told due to the size of the syringe-they don’t make the microfine 29-definitely ask because 27–which is what I have for menopur right now is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy better than 25 and will fit on the end of the syringe 🙂
Jo said:
Definitely ask about changing the needle tip. I discard the mixing needle for the Menopur and use the Q-cap to mix, then use another (much smaller!) needle to inject. I still get bruising, but it’s a lot smaller than your beauties!!!! And I agree — the pen is SO much easier to use.
Looks like we are cycle buddies this month! I am on Day 7 of stims for IVF #2. Hoping that it works for both of us this time!!!!
Hugs,
Jo