hCG Trigger
What is the hCG Trigger?
The hCG trigger injection is a medication known as a human chorionic gonadotropin and is used after other fertility hormones, such as clomiphene citrate or menotropins, to induce ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary) or in women undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART), to induce final maturation of the eggs. The dose used for the trigger is dependent on the body mass index of the female.
There are several brand names for the hCG trigger and include:
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Profasi |
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Pregnyl |
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Novarel |
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Generic hCG |
| Directions for mixing and giving the hCG trigger — 10,000 I.U. Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure that the surface you work on is clean. |
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Use an alcohol swab to cleanse the rubber stoppers of both vials. |
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Using the 3cc syringe with a 1.5 inch needle, draw back on the plunger to the 1cc mark. |
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Pierce the rubber stopper of the diluent vial. Inject 1cc of air into the vial. |
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Turn the needle upside down, making sure the tip of the needle is kept below the fluid level. Withdraw 1cc of the liquid. |
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Remove the needle and pierce the vial containing the powder. Slowly inject 1cc of diluent into the vial of powder. Gently swirl the solution until the powder is dissolved. |
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Turn the vial upside down and withdraw all of the medication, making sure that the tip of the needle is kept below the fluid level. Remove the needle from the vial and carefully replace the cap. Pull back on the plunger to clear the needle of any medication. Remove the needle from the syringe and replace with a new 1.5 inch needle for intramuscular injection or a new 0.5 inch needle for subcutaneous injection. |
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With the needle pointing toward the ceiling, flick the side of the syringe to disperse the air bubbles and the air pocket at the top of the syringe, then |
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Gently push the plunger until one or two drops of liquid are expressed to ensure you have eliminated any air. |
Changes if you are giving 15,000 I.U.
You will need two bottles of hCG powder. Each bottle contains 10,000 I.U. Inject 2 cc of fluid into the first powder bottle. Once dissolved, draw the 2 cc of dissolved powder back into the same syringe. Inject the dissolved powder from the syringe into the 2nd bottle of powder. Once the second bottle is dissolved, draw only 1.5 cc back into the syringe. There will be 0.5 cc of medication that remains in the bottle.
Changes if you are giving 20,000 I.U.
You will need two bottles of hCG powder. Each bottle contains 10,000 I.U. Inject 1 cc of fluid into the first powder bottle. Once dissolved, draw the 1 cc of dissolved powder back into the same syringe. Inject the dissolved powder from the syringe into the 2nd bottle of powder. Once the second bottle is dissolved, draw all of the medication back into the syringe.
The hCG Trigger injection can be given as an intramuscular or a subcutaneous injection. Either way will work. The intramuscular injection will cause more bruising. The subcutaneous injection will cause the injection area to be red, swollen and itchy. It may stay this way for a few days. This is normal.
