How to Perform a Self Injection to the Abdomen

Abdominal injections are commonly used for many types of problems, such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases and sometimes dwarfism. They are a type of subcutaneous injection (injection given to the fatty area between skin and muscle), so while the needle length may vary, the needle generally won't be extremely long.^{[1]XResearch source} Self injecting can be hard, as it requires you to be both the patient and the doctor, but with time and practice, it will become easier. This guide will teach you some tips and tricks to correctly self-inject into your abdomen.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing the Injection^{[2]XResearch source}

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Wash your hands. Injections need to be clean to prevent infection, so wash your hands thoroughly, preferably with soap and water.^{[3]XResearch source}
2
Choose an injection site. Find a spot 2 in (5.1 cm) fingers left or right of your belly button. Then move a little up or down from it.^{[4]XResearch source} You can also inject below the belly button, but it will most likely hurt more.
- Avoid the belly button in all cases.
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Injecting into a vein, unless otherwise instructed, can cause unnecessary pain. Try to look for telltale lines of a blood vessel and adjust away from it.
4
Wipe the injection site clean. Using an alcohol wipe, clean and disinfect your injection site and its surroundings. This is a must, as injections are to be kept clean to prevent infection.^{[5]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
- Make sure the injection is dialed to the correct dose.^{[6]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
  Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
5
Pinch the area around the injection site lightly. This will move the injection site away from muscle, making your target more direct and also making the injection less painful.
- Relax. The whole point is to make sure that you don't inject into your muscles, but if you tighten them, your tense muscles will get into the way and it will hurt.
- Use ice or numbing cream to numb the area.^{[7]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
  Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
- Consider having a friend or supporter nearby to help reduce your stress levels.^{[8]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
  Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Performing the Injection

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1
Inject. Hold the syringe with your dominant hand, as this will make your injection much more accurate and easier to control. Push the needle down into the skin with your wrist at a 90 degree angle without using extra force.^{[9]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}^{[10]XResearch source} Once the needle is in the skin, pull back on the plunger to make sure that the needle is not sitting inside a small blood vessel.^{[11]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.} If you don't see blood in the syringe, push the needle all the way in unless you are given specific instructions not to do so by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Press the trigger slowly so your hand won't waver. If your needle is electronic, click the button and slowly bring your hand to the syringe again, to steady it.
After you're done injecting, make sure that the medication stays in without any problems by counting (slowly) to at least 10 before moving on and taking the needle out.
Lift your hand/wrist upwards to separate the needle from the skin. Don't do this swiftly as it might cause pain. Don't flex or tighten your muscles when doing this; it might push the medication out.
This will stop blood flow and keep the injection site clean. If the needle is short, this won't be needed.^{[12]XExpert SourceJoshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive EndocrinologistExpert Interview. 20 August 2021.}
5
Write down your injection site in a notebook. If the injection needs to be taken daily, the injections sites should vary from day to day.^{[13]XResearch source}
- For example, if an injection is taken on the left side of the abdomen, the next injection should be taken on the right side.
6
Dispose of any contents. Throw away all disposable supplies to keep things as sanitary as possible. Don't worry about wasting; safety is the most important.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Needles, wipes and cotton balls should be thrown away.
- Always dispose of needles in a safe container to keep you and others safe. Do not re-use needles or share them with others.
- If the syringe is in "pen" form, keep it. However, make sure to not keep the connectable needles. These should be disposed of.
Most meds need to be refrigerated, so make you know how to store them. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out if your medication needs to be refrigerated, at which temperature and if it needs to get to room temperature before injection.

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Question
Can you self inject yourself?
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Joshua U. Klein is a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the Co-Founder of Extend Fertility. He specializes in IVF, egg freezing, infertility, fertility preservation, artificial insemination, and treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Klein has been published in numerous peer-reviewed academic journals such as Science, Fertility and Sterility, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. He holds a BA in English from Yeshiva University and an MD from Harvard Medical School.
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Expert Answer
You can, but you should definitely practice beforehand. Ask a doctor to help walk you through the injection process, or watch a credible, easy-to-follow video tutorial.
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What should I do after my injection?
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Joshua U. Klein is a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the Co-Founder of Extend Fertility. He specializes in IVF, egg freezing, infertility, fertility preservation, artificial insemination, and treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Klein has been published in numerous peer-reviewed academic journals such as Science, Fertility and Sterility, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. He holds a BA in English from Yeshiva University and an MD from Harvard Medical School.
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Expert Answer
Massage the injection site to help the medicine disperse properly. This prevents the medicine from accumulating in one spot, which can lead to soreness.
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Question
How can I make my self injections hurt less?
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Joshua U. Klein is a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the Co-Founder of Extend Fertility. He specializes in IVF, egg freezing, infertility, fertility preservation, artificial insemination, and treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Klein has been published in numerous peer-reviewed academic journals such as Science, Fertility and Sterility, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. He holds a BA in English from Yeshiva University and an MD from Harvard Medical School.
Joshua U. Klein, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist
Expert Answer
Prepare the skin with ice or numbing cream, which should help the injection hurt less.
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Tips

Sit down rather than stand up, since this will loosen your muscles and make the shot not as painful.
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Try letting another person inject you at first, as to get familiar with the shot.
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Lay down if another person is injecting you.
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Warnings

Some injections shouldn’t be injected as an abdominal injection. Make sure to find out about your needle and medication first.
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