HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that helps eggs within the ovaries mature, Drugs.com explains. It can be used to induce ovulation to help women overcome some causes of infertility, and also can be used to help boys who have not reached puberty get their testicles to descend. In order to work properly, HCG must be injected under the skin. Although this can be done by a physician or nurse, some patients will need to be able to administer the injections themselves.
Step 1
Clean both the HCG and the diluent vials. According to the Dartmouth-Hitchock Medical Center, this can be done by removing the plastic caps on both vials and swabbing the rubber stoppers on both vials with an alcohol wipe.
Step 2
Fill the syringe with 1 cc of diluent. Place the 18-gauge needle on the syringe and insert the needle through the plunger of the diluent vial and into the liquid. Turn the diluent vial upside-down and gently pull back on the plunger until 1 cc of diluent is in the syringe. Alternately, you can tilt the vial instead of holding it upside-down, Seattle Reproductive Medicine explains.
Step 3
Mix the diluent and the HCG. Insert the needle into the HCG vial and gently push on the plunger so that the 1 cc of diluent is expelled into the HCG powder. For best results, aim the needle at the side of the vial to ensure that you get all of the HCG. Gently swirl the vial so that the HCG becomes completely dissolved.
Step 4
Suck up the HCG/diluent mixture. While keeping the needle in the vial, invert the vial and move the needle so that the tip is near the top of the vial. Gently pull back on the plunger while making sure that the tip of the needle stays submerged so you do not accidentally draw any air into the syringe. If air gets into the syringe, finish sucking the mixture into the syringe, then remove the needle from the vial. While holding the syringe with the needle facing upward, gently press on the plunger until all of the air has been expelled.
Step 5
Switch needles. Unscrew the 18-gauge needle and replace it with the 25 gauge needle.
Step 6
Prepare the injection site. HCG can be injected either into the thigh or the abdomen. Whichever site you choose, clean the site with an alcohol wipe.
Step 7
Inject the medication. Hold the needle and syringe so that they are at a 90-degree angle to the injection site. Stick the needle into the injection site as far as it will go. Press gently on the plunger to inject the medication.
Step 8
Withdraw the needle and apply pressure to the injection site using a cotton ball to help minimize bleeding and bruising.
Things You'll Need
- Vial of HCG
- Vial of diluent
- 3-cc syringe
- 18-gauge needle
- 25-gauge needle
- Alcohol wipe
