Patient Instructions: Progesterone

Progesterone Injection (3CC) 18G 1 ½ in. 22G 1 ½ in.

OPENING THE MEDICATION

1. Use a new sterile syringe and needle each time you inject.
2. Carefully flip the lid of the vial off.
3. Carefully twist the needle cover (clockwise to tighten needle on the syringe) off of the syringe. Do not touch the needle. If you do touch the needle, replace the needle by carefully recapping the needle, twisting if off and twisting on a new one. Needles are no longer sterile after being touched.
4. Draw the medication into the syringe using the following method.
• Wipe the top of the vial with alcohol swab. Do not touch the top after wiping with anything other than the needle.
• Draw air into the syringe by pulling the plunger back until the mark of the amount of medication you are going to withdraw.
• Insert the needle into the vial through the rubber stopper.
• Push the plunger all the way in.
• Turn vial upside down without removing the needle. Withdraw the amount needed making sure the tip of the needle remains in the liquid.
• Withdraw the needle from the vial.
5. Tap the syringe with the needle pointed up to cause any air bubbles to rise. Slightly press the plunger until a drop of liquid appears at the top of the needle.
6. You are now ready to administer the injection.

INJECTING THE MEDICATION

The best areas for intramuscular injection are the upper buttock and thigh area. The upper buttock is recommended (see picture)

To locate the correct area, divide the buttock into four quadrants. The upper outside quadrant is the location for the injection. This location reduces the risk of hitting a blood vessel or nerve.

1. Clean the injection site with alcohol and allow to air dry.
2. Choose a comfortable position such as lying face down, standing, or leaning against a surface with toes pointed slightly inward to relax the muscles. You may want to shift weight to the side of the body that is not going to get the injection.
3. Pinch the injection site between thumb and forefinger. Hold the needle the way you would hold a pencil at a 90 degree angle about 2 to 3 inches from the skin. Insert the entire needle with a quick motion and release the skin.
4. Pull back the plunger slightly and check for blood. If blood appears in the syringe, do not panic, pull the needle out a bit, change direction, push back all the way in and inject.
5. If there are no signs of blood, slowly push the plunger all the way with a slow steady motion. Gently withdraw the needle and discard in your sharps container. Wipe site with alcohol rubbing gently. If bleeding appears, apply pressure.

CLEAN UP

1. Discard used needles, syringes, ampules and vials in to your sharps container.
2. Your sharps container is classified as medical waste and must be disposed of properly. Ask your health care provider (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) about disposal when it is full.
3. Your injection material must be sterile and cannot be reused.
4. Never leave needles lying around where others can pick them up.
5. Never reuse a needle. Not only does a needle need to be sterile each time you use it, but today's needles are thinner and more delicate for greater comfort so reusing a needle can damage the tip and cause injury and greater pain.