There are various methods of administering the trigger injection. It can both be given into the muscle (intramuscular) or below the skin (subcutaneous), that’s the maximum common route. An intramuscular injection will be similar to getting a vaccine shot at your GP and might cause more bruising than while injecting below the skin. Women on occasion report redness of the area of subcutaneous injections. It can make the site turn out to be red, inflamed and itchy for a day. However, these side effects post injection are usually minimal.
Alternative shots to U- HCG
- GnRH analog : Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) trigger has been used for the induction of final follicular maturation. It aims at ovulation with reduction of the OHSS risk. GnRH-a trigger stimulates FSH secretion in addition to LH surge. The advantage of this method is more maturity of the nucleus and the resumption of meiosis. Eventually it increases the number of Metaphase II oocytes. It is useful in patients under antagonist protocol only. Those under long agonist protocol won’t respond to it.
- Recombinant HCG – Recombinant fertility drugs are made in a laboratory using DNA technology. They are much similar to hormones made by the body in molecular composition. In the case of r-hCG, the lab-made hormone is similar to the body’s natural luteinizing hormone (LH). It is not recommended in people with primary ovarian insufficiency or those with very poor ovarian reserves. The fertility drugs in general may not be effective for these people. Since recombinant LH has a shorter half-life compared with hCG, its use also helps luteal support while potentially reducing OHSS risk.