Choosing to seek help on your journey to becoming a mom doesn’t come without homework. Preparing yourself for the countless shots, pessaries, and lifestyle changes in the hope you reach your goal can become overshadowed by the side effects. Unless you are in the medical field it is alien to administer your own shots which can make you question can I suffer nerve damage from progesterone in oil injections.
Nerve Damage from Progesterone In Oil Injections
Can progesterone shots cause nerve damage? Giving yourself a shot can be a tricky task. You must take care not to nick a blood vessel or nerve which can be daunting, not to mention painful. It is unlikely that you will suffer from nerve damage but if you hit a nerve whilst administering the shot it can leave you with radiating pain. The good news is this shouldn’t last more than a few days.
Nerves, Veins, and Blood Vessels
Our bodies are entwined in blood vessels, veins, and nerves. I like to imagine an electric circuit, wires in and out to help the bulb shine brightly. Yet if one of these vital wires is compromised then there becomes an issue in the circuit. Well, looking at our bodies anything that could compromise our nerves can also cause an issue!
Progesterone Oil Shots
Progesterone is a hormone used for many reasons and a common medication prescribed for women who are on their IVF journey.
You are expected to administer this hormone at home by injection into your muscle. It will help raise your hormone levels to prime your body for pregnancy.
As daunting as this may seem it is a little hurdle when you reach the ultimate goal of becoming a mom.
As with any medication, there can be side effects but before we dive into those let’s look at whether progesterone shots can cause nerve damage.
Can Progesterone Shots Cause Nerve Damage?
There is no known evidence to suggest that nerve damage from progesterone in oil injections can occur. But this is not to say you can’t suffer from nerve pain whilst taking progesterone shots.
As you are aware you are expected to administer the shots yourself which comes with its own risks. Look at the points below for tips on administering your shot.
- Ensure the oil is at a warm room temperature. Warming gently in a water bath is considered effective or rolling the container in your hands thins the oil. This helps for a smoother injection. Do not heat to extreme temperatures! Water should be tepid if using a water bath.
- Check with your healthcare provider for the administering site. Avoid using the same place consecutively. Usually, you insert the needle directly into muscle tissues around your abdomen and hip area.
- Clean the area well and only draw up the medication when you are ready.
- Controversial advice comes when icing the administer site. Some women avoid icing the site because this can contract your muscles making them tighter, the more relaxed you are the better. Alternatively using an ice pack can numb the surface of the skin reducing the pain from piercing the skin.
- Apply a warm moist compress after your shot and discard the needle using appropriate safety measures.
Sounds straightforward right? Once you get your head around it you may come accustomed to your daily shots. However, you are still inserting a needle into your body so there are risks involved.
Side Effects of Progesterone Oil
Intramuscular injections are low risk but when taking progesterone oil your skin can become inflamed and bumps may form. It’s important to avoid injecting into these sites to prevent Panniculitis.
You may find with injections comes nerve pain. Nerve damage from progesterone injections is rare, nerve pain can be common and has no cause for alarm, however hindering a nerve can leave you with pain and discomfort.
The good news is this discomfort is usually short lived. In rare cases you could suffer from numbness and if this occurs contact your doctor straight away. Typically speaking you can expect to be sore but if you have long lasting pain longer than a few days check in with your doctor for advice.
- Sciatic Nerve
Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down your legs, so if your site of injection is in your buttocks there’s a good chance this nerve can become compromised leading to sciatica. But this does mean that you are suffering from nerve damage from progesterone shots.
Sciatica can leave you with mild to moderate nerve pain that can radiate anywhere along the nerve pathways. Injecting close to the sciatic nerve can make the risk of sciatica pain higher.
Other Side Effects
When reading the side effects maintain focus on the end goal. Your doctor will only prescribe progesterone oil for you when the benefits outweigh the risk of the side effects that some women have endured.
Some common side effects are listed below:
- Pain/swelling on the injection site
- Breast pain
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Change in weight
- Nausea
- Increase of hair growth on the body
- Loss of hair from the scalp
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
Reading these it’s significant to note many of these symptoms are similar to early pregnancy symptoms which can often be confusing and feel cruel. Hold dear to your heart that you are on your unique journey and these blips are minor in the grand plan for your future.
When To Seek Help
If at any point in your IVF journey you start to feel extremely unwell or have significant pain or swelling seek advice immediately. Usually, there is no cause for alarm but it is best to consult a professional for them to examine you further.
If dealing with mild pain consult your fertility clinic before taking any painkillers as some drugs can affect you when taking progesterone oil shots.
Wrapping Up
To conclude nerve damage from progesterone in oil injections is rare but as explained our bodies are complicated vessels and inserting any type of sharp implement can cause nerve pain.
Try brushing up on your administering technique or make it a chance for your partner to become involved. You are already putting your mental, emotional and physical health under pressure so allowing your partner to take this responsibility can help administer a smooth sailing injection.
Any long lasting nerve pain should be reported.
