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Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) typically include injectable medications. If you’re anxious about self-administering your injections, you’re not alone. Nerves are common, especially the first few times.

Knowing what to expect often makes the process easier to navigate. To help you feel confident in following your treatment plan, we’ve compiled important information about the two types of injections commonly used during a cycle: subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. Here’s what to know.

The Difference Between Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections During IVF

Fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) typically include injectable medications. If you’re anxious about self-administering your injections, you’re not alone. Nerves are common, especially the first few times.

Knowing what to expect often makes the process easier to navigate. To help you feel confident in following your treatment plan, we’ve compiled important information about the two types of injections commonly used during a cycle: subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. Here’s what to know.

The majority of fertility medications are administered as subcutaneous injections. In this technique, a medication is injected into a layer of tissue between your skin and muscle.

Subcutaneous injections differ from intramuscular injections in several key ways:

Injection site: The most common subcutaneous injection site for fertility medication is in the lower abdomen, at least one to two inches away from your navel. The front of your thigh is another potential option. In both cases, the medication can be easily injected into the fatty tissue beneath the skin without the risk of being injected into the muscle.

Injection supplies: The needle used for subcutaneous injections is shorter and thinner than the one used for an intramuscular injection. Needle thickness ranges from 27 gauge to 31 gauge. (Thickness is inversely related to the size of the gauge, so a smaller gauge corresponds to a thicker needle and a larger gauge corresponds to a thinner needle.) The length can range from 0.3” to 0.5”.

In addition to fertility medications, these medications are also administered as subcutaneous injections:

How to administer a subcutaneous injection

1. Clean the injection site with an alcohol pad and allow the area to air dry.

2. Use your non-dominant hand to grasp a one to two-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger at the injection site.

3. Hold the syringe in your dominant hand like a pencil, and insert the entire length of the needle into the pinched skin at a 90-degree angle. You can insert the needle at a 45-degree angle if you have less fat on your body.

4. Push on the plunger in a slow and steady motion until all of the medication is injected. When done, release the pinched skin and gently withdraw the needle.

5. Discard the used needle and syringe into your sharps container.

You may see a small drop of liquid come out of the injection site. This is normal and not cause for concern. You can wipe it with gauze or a tissue if necessary.

Your fertility medication protocol may include intramuscular injections, which deliver a medication into your muscle. This technique is also commonly used for many vaccines.

Progesterone, a “transfer medication” that supports successful embryo implantation in IVF, is a good example of a fertility medication commonly administered as an intramuscular injection, though there are other progesterone formulations that can be used vaginally or orally.

Intramuscular injections differ from subcutaneous injections in several key ways:

Injection site: In this technique, a medication is injected deep into a muscle. The upper, outer part of the buttocks is the most common intramuscular injection site for fertility medications. (This can be difficult to reach when self-injecting — we have tips below to help!)

Injection supplies: The needle used for intramuscular injections is longer and thicker than the one used for a subcutaneous injection. Needle thickness ranges from 18 gauge to 25 gauge. (Thickness is inversely related to the size of the gauge, so a smaller gauge corresponds to a thicker needle and a larger gauge corresponds to a thinner needle.) The length can range from 1” to 2” depending on your body mass index (BMI).

In addition to fertility medications and vaccines, these medications are also administered as intramuscular injections:

Some hormones, including testosterone and contraceptive hormones

How to administer an intramuscular injection

2. Hold the syringe in your dominant hand between your thumb and fingers, as if you were holding a pen.

3. Firmly stretch the skin at the injection site with your thumb and index finger on your non-dominant hand.

4. Insert the entire length of the needle into the stretched skin at a 90-degree angle with one swift motion, similar to a dart.

5. Stabilize the syringe with your free hand and pull back slightly on the plunger. If you see blood return, do not inject the medication and withdraw the needle. Remove the needle and change to a new one. Repeat the injection process at another injection site.

6. If there is no blood return, the needle is inserted properly and you can slowly inject the medication.

7. Push on the plunger in a slow and steady motion until all of the medication is injected. When done, quickly withdraw the needle and dispose of the used needle and syringe into the sharps container.

8. Apply pressure to the injection site with gauze or a tissue. You may see some light bleeding.

9. Gently massage the skin afterwards to reduce discomfort and help your body absorb the medication.

Injection site reactions are one of the most common side effects during IVF, and you should expect to experience some soreness, redness, or bruising at the site of injection. This reaction will typically resolve itself within a few days.

If you are self-administering an intramuscular injection, ice the skin beforehand to keep soreness and bruising to a minimum. Massaging the area afterwards can help reduce soreness. For medications injected daily, such as progesterone, using a light heating pad after the injection can also alleviate discomfort.

Icing is not necessary for subcutaneous injections.

Intramuscular injections are typically administered in the upper, outer part of the buttocks. Since this can be difficult to reach, consider asking for assistance from your partner, a friend, or a family member. If you need to self-inject, try standing in front of a mirror for a better view of the injection site. You can also ask a nurse or another clinic staff member to circle the injection site on your body so that you can find it more easily.

With both injection techniques, it is best practice to rotate the injection site.

Want personalized injection guides at your fingertips?

Alto is more than just a pharmacy — we’re a partner in your fertility journey, and we offer a variety of resources to ensure that you’re never alone in navigating treatment.

In our injection guide videos, experienced pharmacists from our fertility team walk you through the entire process, from preparation to proper injection technique and safe sharps disposal. And you won’t have to sift through dozens of videos: as an Alto customer, you have your own unique playlist in the app, with videos for your specific medications.

Interested in learning more about how Alto can support your treatment? Request a price quote online or reach out through in-app messaging.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Egg freezing, a fertility preservation treatment that allows you to store unfertilized eggs for potential use in the future, has grown increasingly popular throughout the past decade. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of U.S. women who pursued the treatment increased by 880%. The trend has continued, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that 123,304 egg freezing cycles were successfully completed in 2020 alone.

What to Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs

While egg freezing is a worthwhile experience for many women and people assigned female at birth, it is a deeply personal decision. There are many factors to consider as you evaluate if it’s right for you, including your individual health, finances, and family building goals.

Informing yourself about the process is a critical first step. Here’s an overview of what egg freezing entails — physically, emotionally, and financially.

Egg freezing is an option for anyone interested in preserving their fertility for personal or medical reasons.

All people with ovaries are born with the total amount of eggs they’ll ever produce — about a million on average. Each person’s egg count decreases with time. While only one egg matures enough to be released from the ovaries during a typical menstrual cycle, thousands of follicles, or potential eggs, are lost each time your body prepares for ovulation. As a result, the quantity and quality of eggs start to steadily decline in the early 30s, with a more significant decline from the mid 30s on.

Though many women successfully conceive naturally after 35, there is a correlation between pregnancy rates and age. By allowing you to try to conceive at a later age with eggs collected earlier, successful egg freezing offers a more flexible timeline for family building, and, in many cases, peace of mind. While many pursue the process with clarity about their reproductive goals — and the intention of a future pregnancy — others are undecided about having children and simply wish to leave their options open.

Egg freezing is also an option for people whose fertility may be impacted by medical factors like the following:

Cancer treatment: Some cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and surgery of a reproductive organ, can impact a person’s fertility. For this reason, many women of reproductive age choose to freeze their eggs before starting treatment.

Other health conditions: Many individual health factors can influence fertility. Treatment for conditions like endometriosis or benign tumors may include removal of the ovaries. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer may pursue elective removal of the ovaries.

Gender-affirming surgery or treatment: The biological process of transitioning can permanently or temporarily impact a person’s ability to conceive. Many transgender men and transmasculine people freeze their eggs prior to hormone therapy or surgery. 

An egg freezing cycle is physically demanding, with self-administered injections and a minimally invasive procedure to retrieve your eggs.

In most cases the process begins with a transvaginal ultrasound, which allows your doctor to estimate your egg quantity. The following blood tests can provide additional information about the number of eggs in your ovaries:

The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test measures your body’s levels of a hormone associated with ovarian reserve. It is a good indicator of egg quantity, but not egg quality.

The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test measures your body’s levels of another hormone associated with your ovarian reserve.

Test results can also help your doctor predict your body’s response to fertility medications and tailor your treatment plan accordingly.

After the initial ultrasound and blood work, your doctor will prescribe stimulation medications to spur the growth of follicles, fluid-filled sacs in your ovaries that potentially contain an egg. These are some of the medications you may take during this stage:

These medications are typically taken as nightly injections.

Most ovulation suppression medications are typically introduced around days 5-10. These medications prevent premature ovulation — the body’s natural release of eggs from the ovaries — so that your doctor can retrieve as many eggs as possible.

These are some of the medications you may take at this stage:

Cetrotide/Fyramedel™ (ganirelix acetate)

While leuprolide is considered a suppression medication, it is typically started at least a week prior to stimulation medications.

Once your eggs have sufficiently developed, your doctor will schedule 1-3 trigger shots to give your eggs a final growth spurt and trigger release.

Medications used for trigger shots include:

If your body doesn’t respond to the stimulation medications or you have a decreased ovarian reserve, your doctor may add one of the following ancillary medications to your protocol to increase your chances of success.

Omnitrope® — a growth hormone whose main purpose is to help improve the quality of eggs

Microdose leuprolide injections — a lower dosage of leuprolide used to boost ovarian response to stimulation medications

The final step in a successful cycle is egg retrieval. In this minimally invasive procedure, your doctor will gently guide a thin needle through your vaginal wall and use suction to draw the eggs from the follicles. Your eggs will then be stored in a facility for however long you choose to.

While the retrieval itself takes 15 to 45 minutes, you should plan to be at the clinic for several hours. Many people find it helpful to have a friend or family member accompany them to the clinic for support before and after.

Each cycle typically takes 10-14 days from the beginning of medication use to egg retrieval. You will have regular doctor’s appointments for additional ultrasounds and blood work while taking stimulation and ovulation suppression medications. Your doctor may adjust medication dosages based on your hormone levels.

If and when you decide to use your frozen eggs, they will be thawed, fertilized with sperm, and implanted into your uterus through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

For some women, it is a viable option to freeze embryos, or fertilized eggs. There are several reasons a person might opt to freeze embryos:

Some studies have found that frozen embryos have a higher thaw survival rate than frozen eggs. 

Embryos can undergo genetic testing, so you can learn of any chromosomal abnormalities before freezing them. 

You will also know that you are freezing an egg healthy enough for successful fertilization.

However, this option requires you to decide whose sperm to use early on in the process.

Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking hormonal birth control before your egg freezing cycle, as it may affect fertility assessment results as well as your body’s response to fertility medications. Non-hormonal forms of birth control, like a copper IUD, should not interfere with the egg freezing process.  

What else should I consider before freezing my eggs?

The egg freezing process affects both the mind and body, with physical and emotional side effects. While each person responds differently to the treatment, certain symptoms are common, including:

Injection site reaction (soreness, redness, or mild bruising)

Changes in mood such as heightened sensitivity, irritability, euphoria, or depression due to elevated estrogen levels

Alto’s fertility-trained pharmacists can help you navigate egg freezing side effects, with availability on nights and weekends.

Different injectable fertility medications require different administration methods. Most injections are administered subcutaneously around the abdomen. Intramuscular injections are typically administered in the upper, outer part of the buttocks, which can be more difficult to reach when self-injecting.

If your protocol includes intramuscular injections, consider asking for assistance from your partner, a friend, or a family member. If you need to self-administer, try standing in front of a mirror for a better view of the injection site. You can also ask a nurse or another clinic staff member to circle the injection site on your body so that you can find it more easily.

Like any medical procedure, egg freezing has the potential for some complications. Egg retrieval may cause bleeding and infection, though this is unlikely to occur in most cases.

One rare, but serious, complication of the process is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), an abnormal reaction to stimulation and trigger medications. It is characterized by pain and swelling in the ovaries and sometimes the abdomen. OHSS is treatable, but there are times when a doctor will recommend ending treatment and starting a new egg freezing cycle in the future.

While many women successfully conceive with frozen eggs, it’s important to remember that fertility preservation treatment does not guarantee a successful pregnancy. There are many steps between egg retrieval and pregnancy, including successful thawing, fertilization, implantation, and continued embryo development.

It may also take several cycles to retrieve your target number of eggs, which your doctor will advise you on. An average of 10-15 eggs are needed to achieve a successful pregnancy. Depending on your age and reproductive health, your doctor may recommend freezing more eggs to increase your chances of successfully conceiving.

Not everyone who freezes their eggs will use them. Some women go on to conceive naturally while others decide not to pursue parenthood. As part of your planning, consider what you would do with unused eggs or embryos. Your options include donating them to a person or couple experiencing infertility or to researchers, or having them appropriately discarded by a clinic or storage facility.

Donating eggs will require additional blood work and testing prior to your cycle. Ask your clinic for additional information if you are interested in this option.

Before deciding to pursue egg freezing, it’s important to know how you will pay for the treatment. Egg freezing costs are ongoing, including not only the fertility medications, testing, blood work, and procedures, but also storage fees and in vitro fertilization. (Many clinics store eggs for up to a year as part of the cost of an egg freezing cycle. If your clinic offers this service, you will need to select another storage vendor after a year.)

The total cost of egg freezing depends on various individual factors. Your reproductive health and your age can influence how many egg freezing cycles your doctor recommends. Egg storage duration depends on your personal family building timeline.

It may not be possible to predict the exact total cost of egg freezing, but identifying your reproductive goals and learning more about your reproductive health can help you arrive at a solid estimate. An initial consultation with a fertility clinic is often a helpful first step, providing additional insight into personal health factors.

Some health insurance plans offer partial or full coverage of egg freezing-related costs, including medications and IVF. Note that most insurance plans have separate medical and pharmacy benefits. In most cases, professional services provided by your doctor or clinic will fall under medical benefits, and fertility medications will fall under pharmacy benefits.

A growing number of employers offer egg freezing coverage as part of employee benefits, separate from health insurance. If your employer doesn’t currently cover egg freezing, don’t be afraid to ask. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association has resources to help you start the conversation.

Some fertility clinics offer financing and payment plans to help you manage or lower egg freezing costs. As you explore your options for clinics, we suggest asking these questions:

Based on my specific treatment plan, what is the typical all-inclusive cost?

What is included in the treatment cost and what is not?

Is a year of egg storage included in an egg freezing package?

Can you provide a detailed list of procedures and costs?

What is the typical cost of fertility medications for my treatment plan?

Additionally, some fertility medication manufacturers offer patient assistance programs to alleviate the cost of these expenses. If Alto is your fertility pharmacy, you are likely taking medications manufactured by EMD Serono or Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Both manufacturers have programs that lower the cost of fertility treatment.

Learn how to apply for EMD Serono’s financial assistance programs.

Learn how to apply for Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ financial assistance programs.

Alto is committed to helping you save as much as possible on your fertility medications. Free same-day delivery makes it easy to manage last-minute changes to your treatment plan, preventing fertility medication waste. We also search for savings options and connect you with programs that require you to apply, like the patient assistance programs above.

A pharmacy partner for your fertility journey

Egg freezing can be a challenging journey, but Alto is with you every step of the way. To ensure that your treatment plan is followed correctly, we offer free same-day delivery of your medications and fertility resources like personalized injection guide videos and one-on-one consultations with fertility-trained pharmacists.

Interested in learning more about how Alto can support your treatment? Request a price quote online or reach out through secure in-app messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

All third party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by Alto Pharmacy remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, Alto’s use of third party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship or endorsement between Alto and the owners of these trademarks.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has made parenthood a reality for many individuals and couples who once struggled to conceive, but that doesn’t mean it is an easy process. Not only is it challenging on both an emotional and financial level, the fertility medications used in a cycle can affect the body in many ways.

How to Navigate Common IVF Side Effects

Knowing what to anticipate can make the experience easier to navigate. To help you prepare as much as possible for your IVF cycle, we’ve put together a guide to medication side effects and management strategies.

This post is a deep dive into medication side effects. For a closer look at the IVF process and medication sequencing, read:

IVF and Egg Freezing: What to Expect and How to Prepare

IVF Medications: Schedule and Side Effects Explained

Below are the main categories of IVF medications and associated side effects. While individual medication protocols vary, you can generally anticipate the types of medications your doctor will prescribe.

The first phase of IVF focuses on stimulating egg growth. These are some of the medications you may take during this stage:

These medications are typically taken as nightly injections, with the exception of Clomid/Letrozole, which is an oral medication.

Known side effects of these medications include:

Mood swings including heightened sensitivity, irritability, euphoria, or depression - individual responses vary

These medications also bring the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This condition is characterized by swelling and pain in the ovaries as the result of over stimulation or an excessive hormonal response to fertility medications. Many mild cases don’t require treatment, but doctors often recommend the following medications for moderate to severe symptoms. (These medications may also be prescribed to prevent OHSS.)

Cabergoline is an oral medication, sometimes used vaginally, that can reduce OHSS symptoms

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) antagonists or letrozole suppress ovarian activity

In some cases, your doctor may recommend canceling treatment and starting a new cycle in the future after OHSS symptoms have resolved.

Ovulation suppression medications prevent premature ovulation — the body’s natural release of eggs from the ovaries — so that your doctor can retrieve as many eggs as possible for fertilization. These are some of the medications you may take at this stage:

At this point in your cycle you may feel very full in your abdomen as the ovaries are enlarged from growing follicles.

The final phase of IVF is the transfer of a fertilized egg into your uterus. Progesterone or estrogen supplements are often prescribed at this stage to support successful implantation of an embryo and sustain a healthy pregnancy.

Progesterone is taken as an intramuscular injection or vaginally in the form of suppositories and capsules. Known side effects include:

Soreness or swelling at the site of injection, if taking progesterone injections

Vaginal itching or burning and yeast infection, if taking vaginally

Estrogen is typically taken as a topical patch but can also be taken orally, vaginally, or as an injection. Known side effects include:

Redness or irritation in the skin covered by the patch, if taking topically

Increased vaginal discharge, if taking vaginally

Constipation, bloating, or stomach cramps  

Everyone has a different threshold for pain or discomfort. You know your body best. If anything feels unusual, it’s always worth speaking with your doctor.

Below are effective and safe ways to treat common side effects during IVF. Many over-the-counter products can be added to the delivery of your fertility medications through Essentials From Alto.

This is one of the most common side effects during IVF, and you should expect to experience some soreness, redness, or bruising at the site of injection. You don’t need to do anything to treat the reaction; it will typically resolve itself within a few days.

Icing your skin beforehand can help keep this side effect to a minimum for intramuscular injections — the deeper of the two injection techniques used during IVF. Be sure to massage your skin afterwards, both to help the medication spread and to prevent soreness in your muscles.

Icing isn’t necessary for subcutaneous injections, the other injection technique.

If you are prescribed estrogen as a topical patch during the final phase of IVF, rotating the location of your patch can help prevent skin irritation.

The patch should be applied to an area of your skin free of powder, lotions, hair, and cuts or other irritations. The most common application sites are the lower abdomen or buttocks.

It's important to let application sites heal as much as possible before reapplying a patch. Aim for at least one week between patch applications.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is the best way to treat pain during IVF. Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) during IVF. Their anti-inflammatory properties prevent the ovaries from expanding and growing, essentially canceling out treatment.

Shop acetaminophen through Essentials From Alto.

Eating smaller meals can help reduce bloating. Some individuals also take simethicone (Gas-X®). If you develop acid reflux from bloating, Tums® is safe to take.

Order digestive health products through Essentials From Alto.

Stool softeners like Colace® and the fiber supplement Metamucil® are often used to alleviate constipation. In addition, stay hydrated — drinking more water helps stool softeners work better — and opt for fiber-rich foods.

Heating pads and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are commonly used to alleviate abdominal cramping during IVF. NSAIDs should be avoided.

Pantiliners can help absorb additional vaginal discharge caused by vaginal preparations of estrogen.

Over-the-counter nausea relief options include ginger chews, peppermints, and nausea bracelets. You can also speak with your doctor about your options for prescription nausea medication if symptoms persist.

Some IVF side effects like mood swings and hot flashes occur as the result of hormonal changes, making them harder to treat.

However, if you find that mood changes are interfering with daily activities, speak with your doctor about medication. Many medications for mood disorders are safe to take during IVF. 

Vaginal itching or burning and yeast infection

Some OTC antifungals like Monistat® are helpful for vaginal itching or burning and yeast infections. However, always check with your doctor before using these medications to make sure they’re appropriate for you. You can also ask your doctor about prescription medication options like fluconazole (Diflucan®).

With more than 50,000 fertility patients served, Alto Pharmacy understands the complexities of your fertility treatment. That’s why we offer a variety of resources to ensure you’re never alone in navigating your fertility medications.

3 Alto Pharmacy Resources to Ease Your Fertility Journey

Undergoing fertility treatment is an intense and deeply personal experience. A great fertility pharmacy partner understands this and goes the extra mile to put your care first.

Reliability and convenience should be non-negotiable in a pharmacy partner during IVF and egg freezing, processes that involve quick-moving and often rapidly changing protocols of fertility medications. But at Alto, that’s only the beginning. We believe that an exceptional fertility pharmacy doesn’t just deliver your fertility medications and necessary ancillary supplies on time — it becomes a partner in your journey.

With more than 50,000 fertility patients served, we understand the complexities of your fertility treatment. That’s why we offer a variety of resources to ensure you’re never alone in navigating your fertility medications.

1. Personalized fertility medication injection guides

It’s normal to be nervous about administering your first injections, but we’re here to walk you through them. In our injection guide videos, experienced pharmacists from Alto’s clinical fertility team share all the information you need to feel confident and ready, from unboxing your medications and preparing the syringe, to correctly injecting the medication and disposing or storing it safely. They also cover potential side effects and tips for preparing in advance.

And you won’t have to sift through years of outdated videos on YouTube to find the correct one for your medication: as an Alto customer, you’ll find your own unique playlist with videos for your specific fertility medications in the app. Some medications have different administration methods, including subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. We developed different injection guides for each administration method so you have all the relevant videos for your fertility medication protocol right at your fingertips.

2. One-on-one consultations with fertility-trained pharmacists

When questions arise during fertility treatment, there’s no substitute for one-on-one time with a fertility pharmacist. But at traditional pharmacies, it’s far too difficult to get a pharmacist’s undivided attention.

That’s not the case at Alto. Whether you’re wondering where to store medications while traveling or how to alleviate pain after an injection — actual questions Alto customers have asked our pharmacists — you’ll have direct access to a fertility-trained pharmacist who’s familiar with your medication protocol seven days a week.

Our pharmacists are available until 9 pm PST on weeknights and 6 pm PST on weekends. Since most fertility medications are administered as nightly injections, our extended hours mean you’ll interact with an actual person, not an automated recording, when it matters most. The best part? There’s no time limit. We’ll wait on the phone while you watch all of the video guides for your nightly injections and walk you through each one if it helps put your mind at ease.

We know that life doesn’t stop during fertility treatment, and sometimes you just need a quick yes or no right away. If a call isn’t convenient, you can ask as many questions as you need to via text or secure message in our app. Whichever communication method you use, you’ll still have a direct line to a fertility-trained pharmacist focused on your individual needs.

Exploring fertility treatment may feel like navigating unfamiliar territory at first. There’s so much new information to take in, from fertility medications and their sequence in an IVF or egg freezing cycle, to the jargon and acronyms you’ll often hear. We have an extensive library of fertility-focused content to help you deepen your understanding of fertility treatments and find useful information to make the best decisions for your needs.

Here are just a few of the resources we offer:

Managing the Costs of Fertility Treatment

Choose a fertility pharmacy you can rely on

Too often, managing fertility medications only adds to the stress of fertility treatment, with hours spent waiting on hold to track down a medication delivery or navigate insurance benefits.

Choosing a reliable pharmacy partner can minimize stress during IVF, egg freezing, and other fertility treatments. Since 2016, we’ve supported more than 50,000 patients through their fertility journeys. As an Alto customer, you’ll never have to worry about whether medications will arrive on time — and you’ll have a supportive pharmacist by your side at every step of the way.

Learn more at alto.com/fertility or reach out at any time via phone at 1-800-874-5881 or in-app messaging.

Since 2016, Alto has supported over 100,000 patients through their fertility journey. In this post we’ll provide guidance on how to select the right fertility pharmacy. In addition, we’ll share the benefits of selecting Alto as your fertility pharmacy.

What to Consider When Selecting a Fertility Pharmacy | Alto Pharmacy

The reliability of a pharmacy is especially important during fertility treatment, which involves an intensive and often changing medication protocol. Late deliveries of your fertility medications are more than an inconvenience — they can impact the effectiveness of treatment. And medication delivery is only part of fertility pharmacy care: your pharmacy partner can also affect the emotional and financial aspects of your fertility journey depending on their resources and accessibility.

Just as it’s important to do your research on fertility clinics and make sure you’ve found the right fit, give yourself time to make an informed decision about which pharmacy you use. Here are the key factors to consider as you explore your fertility pharmacy options.

How do I know if I’m administering an injection correctly? My clinic just changed my medications, what do I do? These are just a few of the medication-related questions that may arise during fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing. There’s no substitute for expert answers. A credible fertility pharmacy will have a team of pharmacists who are experienced in the nuances of fertility treatment, including medications, dosing, and side effects.

At Alto, not only do we provide personalized support from expert pharmacists, we also offer additional resources to help you deepen your understanding of treatment and fully benefit from our team’s expertise. In injection guide videos, fertility-trained pharmacists share all the information you need to feel confident about administering your injections. Some medications have different administration methods, including subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. We’ve developed guides for each method.

We also have an extensive library of fertility-focused content, offering a deeper dive into various aspects of treatment from navigating IVF side effects to managing finances and more.

A pharmacy’s fertility expertise and resources are only as valuable as they are accessible. In addition to making sure that your pharmacy partner has experience with fertility treatment, consider how easy it is to get in touch with their team, the communication channels they offer, and their hours. Pharmacies with weekend and evening availability will be best equipped to provide support when you actually need it.

As an Alto customer, you’ll have a direct line to a fertility-trained pharmacist via in-app messaging seven days a week. Since our pharmacists are available until 9 pm PST (12 midnight EST) on weeknights, you can get the answers you need as you take your injections.

Additionally, we created all of our fertility resources with accessibility in mind. For example, you won’t have to sift through dozens of injection guide videos to find the ones that are relevant to you. Each Alto customer has their own unique playlist with videos for their specific medications in the app.

During fertility treatment, fast and reliable delivery isn’t an additional convenience that a pharmacy offers — it’s a must-have.

Since your medications and doses are based on your hormone levels, your protocol can change even after you start your injections. You can avoid a lot of stress during these instances — and reduce wasted medication — by choosing a pharmacy that can guarantee fast same-day delivery.

Alto offers same-day delivery seven days a week to customers within our courier zones, and you can choose the delivery window that’s most convenient for your schedule. Once your delivery is scheduled, you’ll be able to see where your courier is and get text updates on their ETA, so there’s no worrying about when your medications will arrive.

Your fertility medications need to arrive on time and in the right condition. Proper temperature-controlled packaging is another non-negotiable requirement during fertility treatment: medications can lose their efficacy if they aren’t shipped or stored at the proper temperature.

Alto ensures that refrigerated medications are held at the right temperature while in transit with temperature-controlled packaging. Clear labeling and stickers indicate which medications require refrigeration to ensure proper storage at home, too. Our packaging was also designed with discretion in mind to ensure privacy.

Blog

The Difference Between Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections During IVF

What to Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs

How to Navigate Common IVF Side Effects

3 Alto Pharmacy Resources to Ease Your Fertility Journey

What to Consider When Selecting a Fertility Pharmacy

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