As I write this, I’m in the middle of my 2nd IVF cycle. For those of you who have yet to experience your first IVF cycle, I thought I’d share two things about IVF medications that surprised me.
IVF Medications Usually Require Specialty Pharmacies
When I was doing my medicated IUI cycles, I was able to get all my medicine from my local pharmacies. I comparison shopped and ended up buying my medications from Target and Costco.
But IVF is different.
Most pharmacies don’t carry the medications you’ll need. Unless you live in a major city, you probably don’t have a fertility pharmacy close to you. You’ll likely end up ordering your medication online.
Things to think about when ordering your meds online:
- Where will you have them delivered? At home or at work? Most online pharmacies require a signature due to the value of the package and the need for refrigeration.
- If you have them delivered at work, are you okay with your co-workers possibly seeing you receive a large box from a pharmacy? How will you handle refrigeration?
- If your pharmacy ships via FedEx, you might want to consider having your medications shipped to a FedEx location and held there until you can pick it up. This is a good option for people who work. Just make sure you’ll be able to get to the FedEx location and pick it up before they close.
IVF Medications Require A LOT of Organization
Your box of meds will probably be HUGE. There are so many vials, boxes, syringes, and needles, and you need to be sure they’re all labeled clearly. I recommend getting a large basket or bin to corral them all in a single spot. Get something that is fun or pretty and makes you smile when you look at it. Do your best to keep things organized so you can administer them smoothly and efficiently each day. You might also want to get a small makeup bag or clutch so you can carry along any medications you might need to take while away from home.
I also recommend keeping a running inventory of how much quantity you have left of each medication. Depending on how your blood work and scans turn out during your cycle, your doctor may change your dosage from what he originally ordered. You may end up needed more medicine than you ordered. There’s nothing more nerve-racking than realizing you need to place an overnight order NOW so you have the medicine your need for tomorrow. Keeping an inventory will help you avoid these kind of surprises.
*** Looking for more tips on surviving IVF? Check out my post, 10 Practical Ways to Prepare for IVF ***
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