Precautions for use of progesterone injection

Smart injection and careful care can reduce the pain of expectant mothers

--Precautions for use of progesterone injection

Progesterone is recognized as the most important hormone in the luteal phase. Luteal support in the ART cycle can significantly improve embryo implantation rate, pregnancy rate and live birth rate. Progesterone injection has high bioavailability and definite efficacy, and is one of the most commonly used luteal support administration methods in assisted reproductive technology.

Progesterone injection is administered by intramuscular injection, but its absorption is slow. The injection site is prone to rash, itching, pain, irritation, redness, swelling, nodules, and plaques. Local nodules may form, and in severe cases, local sterile abscesses and other adverse reactions may occur. It takes a long time for the local nodules and sterile abscesses to be absorbed and recovered. This brings pain and distress to many patients.

Injection technique:

Choose the gluteus medius or gluteus minimus for deep intramuscular injection

Avoid red, swollen and hardened areas and inject alternately

Try to extend the interval time

Do not push the medicine too fast

Post-injection care:

After 2-3 hours of intramuscular injection, care can be performed after the needle hole is completely closed to promote drug absorption and relieve pain.

Hot compress: Hot compress can dilate blood vessels, speed up blood flow, accelerate the metabolism of substances in the blood, facilitate the absorption of the medicine, and promote the disappearance of induration. 4 hours after intramuscular injection of progesterone, soak a hot towel in hot water, wring it dry and apply it to the affected area, change it every 3-5 minutes, 20-30 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day. If you use a hot water bag for hot compress, wrap a wet towel around the outside of the hot water bag. The water temperature of the hot compress should be controlled within 50℃ and should not be too hot to prevent burns. This is mainly because after intramuscular injection, the needle hole at the injection site will heal completely in about 2 to 3 hours. If hot compress is applied immediately after injection, infection of the injection site is likely to occur, causing inflammation such as pain, itching, redness and swelling.

Wash and peel fresh potatoes, cut them into thin slices about 0.5 to 1 cm thick, and stick the potato slices on the injection site once a night to avoid nodules and achieve the effects of promoting blood circulation, relieving pain and reducing inflammation. If swelling and nodules have appeared, the potato slices need to be evenly applied to the swollen area without leaving any gaps, and the range should be larger than 1 cm than the swollen area. Replace with fresh potatoes every half an hour and continue to apply until the symptoms disappear.

Storage conditions of progesterone injection:

The correct way to store progesterone injection is to keep it away from light and in an airtight container at a storage temperature of 10-30°C. It is particularly important to avoid refrigeration or freezing, as refrigeration may affect the stability and effectiveness of the drug.

Author: Deng Duo, Sports New City Branch of Dalian Women and Children's Medical Center (Group)

Reviewer: Li Ling, Chief Pharmacist, Sports New City Branch, Dalian Women and Children's Medical Center (Group)