How do you inject Depo Provera properly?

[happousai (imported)]

I just got my 6 preloaded Depo Provera syringes (150ml) today. The injection didn't go smoothly, though.

First I tried to inject my right buttock. I pushed the needle in (there was a bit of resistance before it broke through the skin. Then I pulled back on the plunger, didn't see any blood, tried to inject... but I couldn't push the plunger forward much, and if I let go of it, it would move back by itself! I wondered if the syringe was sealed or something, so I removed it... and immediately blood started trickling out of the injection site, running all the way down my leg!

I experimentally pushed the plunger over the sink and after a little resistance, some of the white medicine came squirting out, confirming that it wasn't blocked.

After cleaning up the blood mess, I tried again in the left buttock. This time it was harder to get the needle in (perhaps it had lost sharpness from the first injection attempt). I had trouble pushing on the plunger again, but then I heard a release of air or something and was able to push it in without problem. So the injection was finished! I took out the needle and there was some more blood, but only a few drops this time.

Anyone know what I did wrong? This sounded a lot harder than someone else's experience (which got lost in the vBulletin crash), and they never mentioned bleeding! My left injection site has a bit of a raised bump now.

[Christina (imported)]

Besides cleaning the area with alcohol and locating the correct area for injection, there are a few things you should know to use a syringe properly.

After the area is prepped and the syringe is at room temperature (the drug is suspended in oil, so it gets thick if cold and you can warm it by holding it in your hand a few minutes (with the cap on of course)), you should carefully remove the cap from the syringe being carefull not to hit the tip of the needle. This will dull it. Next you should purge the syringe by holding the needle up and flick the side with your fingernail. Then you want to push up on the plunger to remove any air inside the syringe (there should be a drop or so comming out the needle). Turn the syringe again so the needle points down then flick the syringe again to get any drops off the needle (I found that if I didn't do that step the drug on the needle burned a little when the needle goes in).

Now, hold the body of the syringe by your thumb and middle finger, with the index finger on the plunger. Hold the syringe several inches away and with a swift movment insert the needle about 2/3rds of it's length into the skin. Move your index finger away and with the other hand pull back on the plunger, if no blood appears in the syringe you are good to go. Put you index finger back on the plunger and apply a slow steady presure. It should take about 5 seconds or so to inject the entire contents of the syringe. Remove the syringe and place a piece of gauze on the site and hold it there for a minute. While holding the gauze, massage the site to disperse the drug into the muscle.

I use this same exact method with estradiol. The only difference being the injection site (on the top part of my leg) and I have to load my own syringe. I use two needles for my injections (one to withdrawl the drugs into the syringe and then a second for the injection itself) this will insure you have an absolutely sharp needle, essential for a painless injection.

It is possible when you inserted the needle that you may have nicked a vein, but the needle may still have ended up in the muscle, hense the importance to pull back on the plunger first. In that case you'll end up with a bruise under the skin from nicking the vein (don't worry, I've done that too). Second, using the same needle twice deffinately made it dull which is why it didn't go in as easily. It also sounds like some of the oil in your syringe gummed up a little, hense the importance of purging it first, and a very important step to insure you don't inject air into you body. If everything is done right only a few drops of blood should be seen at the site after removing the needle.

It is very important to follow the correct procedure with injecting, otherwise you could end up in trouble. I've done self injections for about 3 years, so this comes from first hand knowledge of doing it for a long time now.

[happousai (imported)]

Ah, I didn't know about purging the syringe. Thanks! I'll follow your instructions next time (probably in a week, unless my erections stop by then, in which case I'll do the next injection in a month).

[madscientist1 (imported)]

Actually, Depo-Provera is water-based and, when injecting into the buttock you should insert the needle all the way in. You will feel the needle enter the muscle.

I have bad the same problem with the needle jamming. The way to solve that is by just pushing until it frees, then inject the suspension slowly and steadily. As for the blood, I always go through a vein, which I suspect you did, too.

[happousai (imported)]

I just finished my second injection.

Christina: Thanks a lot for the tip about unjamming the needle before inserting it! This time it went a lot more smoothly.

Since Depo Provera just has to be delivered intramuscularly, I injected into my thigh instead of my buttock this time so that I could reach it more easily. I had no problems getting the needle in this time, and didn't hit a vein. After I withdrew the needle there was only a drop of blood.

[SplitDik (imported)]

Christina's post is good. But because it was sort of a long post, I just want to emphasize a couple things.

1) The needle tip will get dull from even a casual tap against anything else, and if fact will dull just touching your skin. For easy injections, definitely keep the tip from contacting anything.

2) Learn where your major veins/arteries and nerves are and avoid them. With buttocks be especially careful not to hit the sciatic nerve!

3) While air bubbles are really only dangerous for intravenous injections (where they can be lethal), it is still very important to purge the needle as described.

4) While injecting, ease the needle back/out a bit as it gets harder to push the plunger.

[polecat (imported)]

This is a great thread! Thanks for good advice people; if I ever manage to get myself some depo (still no job *sigh*) I'll take all this advice into account. It's hard to find out about this stuff without wading through tedious medical procedures manuals.

[madscientist1 (imported)]

Christina's post is good. But because it was sort of a long post, I just want to emphasize a couple things.

1) The needle tip will get dull from even a casual tap against anything else, and if fact will dull just touching your skin. For easy injections, definitely keep the tip from contacting anything.

2) Learn where your major veins/arteries and nerves are and avoid them. With buttocks be especially careful not to hit the sciatic nerve!

The sciatic nerve can be easily avoided by injecting closer to the hip. Mentally divide the buttock into quarters. Then inject into the upper, outer quarter, halfway between the midpoint and the hip. For illustrations go to www.google.com and enter "buttock injection" in the searchbox.

3) While air bubbles are really only dangerous for intravenous injections (where they can be lethal), it is still very important to purge the needle as described.

You may wish to leave a tiny amount of air in the syringe to make sure that all the suspension enters the muscle and does not leach into the skin, which can be painfull

4) While injecting, ease the needle back/out a bit as it gets harder to push the plunger.