Progesterone in Oil Refill: IVF Medication + Unboxing

For our next cycle I needed to order a progesterone in oil refill. So I figured I’d give you a quick unboxing post just so you know what to expect.

After our latest FET failed our doctor wanted to have us do an ERA test to check for when my endometrial lining is most receptive. 

This cycle will be almost the same as a natural FET cycle, but instead of transferring an embryo they’ll take a sample of endometrial tissue to biopsy.

I still have estradiol and low dose aspirin, so I just needed to order the PIO.

So far, I’ve only ordered fertility injection meds through specialty pharmacies. 

I had a bad experience trying to order through a drugstore pharmacy, so be aware. They had no understanding of the importance of timing with my cycle, whereas specialty pharmacies do.

I don’t want you to have the stress of your plan being delayed for a couple months like I did.

Please note: I am not a medical professional. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any conditions. Always consult your doctor or medical professionals. Full disclaimer available here.

RELATED: Natural FET Cycle (Frozen Embryo Transfer)

Ordering Your Progesterone in Oil Refill

I called the specialty pharmacy and followed the menu options to order my refill.

The lady I spoke with verified my name and address. She also checked on which additional supplies I would need.

In addition to the PIO, I ordered more needles and syringes. 

I still have a spare sharps container, but if you need one then be sure to ask for an extra when you order refills.

She also included some alcohol swabs. You’ll use them on the top of the PIO vial before drawing up the oil and on your injection site.

If you need more alcohol swabs you can get them here too.

The pharmacy rep gave me the estimate and collected payment, then scheduled the delivery. 

Since I called in the morning, the delivery was scheduled for the next day.

Check with your pharmacy for their next day delivery cut-off time (mine is 2pm). 

You’ll also want to see if they offer weekend deliveries. Some pharmacies charge extra for them. For one of my previous pharmacies it was an additional $30 for overnight weekend delivery.

RELATED: Embryo Transfer Affirmations

Tips for Ordering Fertility Med Refills

-Ask for a spare sharps container.

-Order medications and have them delivered before you start your active cycle.

-If you can, order your meds by Thursday.

-Check for delivery times. 

-See if you need to sign for the delivery.

-Make room in fridge if needed (this applies more for stim shots).

*If you know the brand of a specific medication you’ve been prescribed, check their website for discounts or coupons before ordering.

Specialty Pharmacies

Check with your IVF clinic on which pharmacy they prefer and recommend. Sometimes they have an arrangement with a specific one to give you a discount.

You may also want to check with your insurance as they may only cover specialty medications from specific pharmacies. Let your IVF clinic know if this is the case so they know where to submit your prescriptions.

• Fairview Specialty Pharmacy 

• SMP Fertility Pharmacy

• BioMatrix Reproductive Specialty Pharmacy

If you’ve used another pharmacy and would recommend it, please share it in the comments section below. That way we can get a nice list going.

PIO Unboxing

The PIO shipment arrived the next day before 10 AM.

It arrived in a plain white box and bubble-wrap pouch held the contents together. 

This included:

• medication info packet and receipt
• alcohol prep pads (30)
• 3mL syringes fitted with 18-gauge, 1.5” needles (30)
• 22-gauge, 1.5” needles (30) 
• Progesterone in Oil 50mg/ml (4)

All of these can be stored at room temperature. 

I have a small plastic bin that has my other medication for this cycle, so I added this PIO refill to that container. It also has a pouch for when I need to take shots on the go and my IVF tracker journal.

The PIO is noted to be kept in a dry location, so we’ve got it in our dining room, not a bathroom. 

I hope this post helped to give you an idea of what to expect when ordering your fertility medications like progesterone in oil and any refills.

If you’re new to fertility shots I have posts with tips for stimulation (stim) shots and progesterone in oil shots that you may find helpful.

Do you have any other tips for ordering fertility meds or refills? Let us know in the comment section below.

Sending you loads of baby dust!

You’ve got this! 💛