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I was just saying to my DH last night that I was very thankful that he wasn't squeamish around needles. I've never given myself a shot, in four IUIs and 1 IVF (plus another IVF going on now). I think I could maybe do it if necessary, but I'd rather just lay down and close my eyes and let DH do it. I prep/mix all the shots though.

My husband did them all for me. I don't usually have a problem with needles, but the thought of putting one into myself sort of freaked me out.

I gave myself the subcutaneous ones in my belly and had to ask him to do the intramuscular ones in my butt since I couldn't reach back there. It was best not to think too much about what was going on or that it was happening to me.

From what I understand, everyone is different - my husband did mine for me! For some reason, I just couldn't make myself do it! They really aren't too bad, either - the needles are all tiny. So whatever you decide, you will be fine! Those tiny needles make it so much better than you'd think.

@littlek: Like previous posters, I did all of my sub-q ones (stimming and triggering drugs), and DH did the IM ones (progesterone in oil), simply because I couldn't reach. We had an awesome system, and he learned how to do it so I barely felt it.

DH is too squirmy to do the shots. DH has been in and out of the hospital, so he has enough experience with shots, but are still afraid of them. I was actually more eager to do the shots myself. I considered being a dr or nurse while I was in high school.

Uhh, so, DH got an epi pen for one of the meds he takes. I was going around with the trainer pen pretend stabbing him, because I had to practice! He.was.not.amused. LOL!

I have had to do Gonal F DH gave them all to me except for.one, when he got called into work, I mustered up the courage and did it, and he always gives me my trigger, but I now feel if I Had to I could do it!!

@bluestriped bee: I never really asked but I think you can. I don't have a needle phobia of any kind but honestly did not want to look at that IM needle going in. For some reason when I couldn't see it, it was very easy to disconnect the sensation from the reality. The sub-q needles, no biggie.

I give myself shots for migraines. I also used to give my friend her insulin shots (when she was at work). She said it was so nice not to have to stick herself (anticipating the pain just made it worse . . . I could surprise her, and it was over before she knew it).

@spaniellove: Imitrex.

I did all of my SubQ shots entirely and DH and I shared in the IM shots. I did IM PIO for 5 weeks and I would stick the needle in and he would push the plunger. I did my trigger in the butt myself but it was hard to push in the thick oil at that strange angle.

DH only did one IM shot since most of my trigger shots were given by a nurse, I did all the others (subcutaneous). With my last trigger, I got a subcutaneous needle, DH was so happy!

I found that it hurt less when I gave myself the shots. What DH DID do that I found really helpful was to prepare the shots (mixing them mostly). It made it so much less stressful for me.

No way! I couldn't stand to have my husband hovering like that, and I can easily feel if it's in far enough. The first time was the toughest, but I counted to 3 and went for it. Then it was no big deal after that. I did have him sit by me to help prepare everything (I had two shots) and give moral support in the beginning.

Wow, I'm a total wimp! I won't even watch DH prepare or give me injections, even the subq ones. I guess if I HAD to, I maybe could do it myself, but I'm so glad I don't!

@bluestriped bee: I imagine you can. I just couldn't because of the angle, really. They instructed us to do upper butt for the IM PIO shots. I found that whenever I did an IM in my leg, it hurt a LOT more.

The trick: Since the PIO is thick, it helps for it to be warm, and thus go in more easily. I would put the bottle in my cleavage for about ten minutes to get it warm. Then I would lie on my side, with the leg on the side that he was going to give the shot in bent at an angle. He would scrub the area (and I mean scrub pretty hard) with an alcohol pad. It numbed it up pretty well. Right before he stuck me, he'd blow on the skin. The evaporating alcohol and his breath made my skin cold, and it hurt less. We got these tricks from an elder care nurse- she said it helped her patients. Another trick we found is that he drew circles on my skin with a Sharpie (yes, I had two black circles on my butt for two months). It helped him know exactly where to go each time. I imagine you could do all of that yourself!

@meganmp: I had the "targets" on my upper butt muscles, too! One of the IVF nurses drew them first, then my husband would keep drawing them every few days before they faded completely. We laughed about that a lot. Those are great tricks you got. We preferred the drop your pants, hold onto the fridge handle and just stab me quickly routine! That was our PIO ritual. haha

Most important thing was the heat pad and he would do a deep massage right after the injection to prevent knots. I still had a few, but not too bad after we got the hang of the massage and heat pad.

Whatever you decide, it will be ok. I used to faint every time I gave blood and got woozy anytime I looked at a needle, but I managed to get over it after the first few injections. I felt like doing it myself gave me more control, and allowed me to pump myself up and then just do it. Otherwise I think watching my husband try to psych himself up to do it might have made me even more nervous, since I know he would be concerned about hurting me.

Also, I always put an ice pack on my stomach for about 10 mins before the injections, and that helped it be pretty painless.

We haven't started injections yet but my hubby already said "no way!!" on giving me shots. He's terrified. Haha! I know he'd give in, but I totally get how he feels. If it were the other way around, I'd be worried, too.