Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone secreted by the placenta and given to a woman with fertility problems to increase her chance of becoming pregnant. HCG is vital to the survival of the corpus luteum. In turn, the corpus luteum produces progesterone and estrogen--two hormones necessary for maintaining the first trimester. HCG injections are given two to three days before normal ovulation would begin to trigger ovulation and increase the number of eggs produced by the ovaries.
Step 1
Wash hands thoroughly. Remove plastic caps from the vial of HCG and the vial of diluent. Divide one buttock onto four sections.
Step 2
Wet a cotton ball with a small amount of alcohol and thoroughly wipe the rubber top of the vial of diluent. Remove the cover of the syringe and draw back on the plunger to allow 1 cc of air into syringe. Inject the 1 cc of air into the vial of diluent.Turn vial upside down. Pull back on plunger until 1 cc of diluent fills the barrel of the syringe. Remove syringe from vial.
Step 3
Wet a clean cotton ball with a small amount of alcohol and wipe the top of the vial of hCG. Inject diluent into the vial of hCG. Gently roll the vial of hCG to dissolve the powered hCG. Do not shake vial.
Step 4
Insert syringe into the vial of reconstituted hCG. Turn vial upside down. Pull back on plunger until the entire contents of the vial are in the the syringe. Remove syringe from vial. Flick the syringe with finger to remove air bubbles.
Step 5
Change the needle of the syringe to a 25 gauge 1.5 inch needle if necessary. If injecting in the dorsogluteal (buttock) muscle, have the patient lie face down. Divide one buttock into four quadrants. Injection will be given in the outer, upper quadrant.
Step 6
Wet a clean cotton ball with alcohol or use an alcohol wipe to cleanse the skin where the hCG injection will be applied (see Warnings). Allow alcohol to dry. With your non-dominant hand, grab a large portion of the muscle. With a dart-like motion, plunge the needle (with your dominant hand) into the cleansed area of skin.
Step 7
Pull back slightly on the plunger. If no blood is seen in the barrel of the syringe, push down on the plunger until the entire dose of hCG has been given. Withdraw the needle quickly from the muscle. Place a cotton ball on the injection site and apply pressure for a couple of minutes. Apply a bandage to injection site. Discard needle in sharps container.
Tips and Warnings
- This is an intramuscular injection. The needle must go deep within the dorsogluteal muscle, a large muscle located in the buttocks. The thigh (vastus lateralis muscle) is an easier site of injection for a person who is self-injecting.
- Before giving the injection, it is important to remember the five rights of medication administration: Right person, right dose, right medication, right time, and right route. To give an hCG shot, it is important to find the the proper site to avoid hitting bone, a major blood vessel or the sciatic nerve. If blood is present when plunger is pulled back, this a sign that needle has hit an artery or a vein. Withdraw the needle and use a different location. Never reuse needles and always discard the needle in a sharps container. Sharps containers are available at most pharmacies or medical supplies stores. If you do not have access to a sharps container use a used bleach bottle or a laundry detergent bottle with a top that screws on tight. Do not use clear bottles or glass containers. Always put containers in the garbage and never in the recycle bin. Keep sharps containers out of reach of small children and pets.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton balls
- Alcohol or alcohol pads
- Syringe
- Vial of diluent
- Vial of hCG
- 25 gauge 1 inch needle
- Adhesive bandage
- Sharps container
