How to Inject Gonal-F: 6 Easy Steps for a Painless Shot
Quick Summary
- Take the Gonal-F pen out of the fridge 15 to 30 minutes before injecting so the shot stings less.
- Inject into the belly, 1 to 2 inches from your navel, and switch sides every night.
- Pinch the skin, insert at 45 to 90 degrees like a dart, press the button, and hold for 5 seconds.
- Always check that the dose window reads zero that confirms you got the full dose.
Learning how to inject Gonal-F is easier than most patients expect, and after two or three nights it becomes routine. Gonal-F comes in a pre-filled pen, so there is no mixing and no drawing up medication. This guide walks through each step, from the fridge to the sharps bin, plus the small tricks that make the shot nearly painless.
What Do You Need Before You Start?
Contents
Gather everything first so you are not hunting for supplies mid-injection:
- Your Gonal-F pen (300 IU, 450 IU, or 900 IU, depending on your prescription)
- A new pen needle for every injection
- Alcohol swab
- A sharps container
- Your dose written down from your clinic’s instructions
Gonal-F contains follitropin alfa, a lab-made FSH that grows your follicles. If you want the background on what it does, our follitropin alfa guide covers it. Mayo Clinic also has a plain-language follitropin alfa overview.
How to Inject Gonal-F Step by Step
- Take the pen out of the fridge 15 to 30 minutes early. Cold medication stings more. Room-temperature medication goes in smoothly.
- Wash your hands and attach a new needle. Peel the tab, screw the needle on straight, and remove both caps. Keep the outer cap for later.
- Prime the pen (first use only). On a brand-new pen, dial to the priming mark and press until you see a drop at the needle tip. This clears air. You do not need to prime again on later nights.
- Dial your dose. Turn the dial until your prescribed number shows in the window. Double-check it against your clinic’s note.
- Choose and clean your site. Pick a spot on your belly 1 to 2 inches from your navel. Wipe with alcohol and let it dry.
- Pinch, insert, press, hold. Pinch a fold of skin, insert the needle at 45 to 90 degrees with a quick dart-like motion, press the button all the way down, and hold for 5 seconds before pulling out.
Then check the dose window. If it reads zero, you received the full dose. If a number remains, that amount was not delivered, call your clinic before injecting more. Unscrew the needle using the outer cap and drop it in your sharps container.
Where Should You Inject Gonal-F?
The belly is standard because it has a soft fatty layer and absorbs the medication evenly. Rotate sides every night: left tonight, right tomorrow. Rotating prevents sore spots and lumps. Some patients use the upper thigh instead, ask your clinic if you prefer that. Bruising is common with nightly shots, and our tips on how to avoid bruising after injections can help keep it to a minimum.
How Do You Store Gonal-F Between Injections?
Keep unopened pens in the refrigerator at 2 to 8°C. Once a pen is in use, the leaflet allows storage at room temperature for up to 28 days, but many clinics still recommend the fridge. Never freeze it, and keep it away from direct light. Our guide on which IVF medications need refrigeration lists storage rules for every product in your protocol.
If you would rather watch than read, the injection instruction videos show each step on camera.
How Do You Know the Injections Are Working?
You will not feel follicles growing, but there are signs. Mild bloating, fuller breasts, and more cervical mucus after day 5 or 6 usually mean things are moving. Your clinic confirms with ultrasound and estradiol blood tests. Our post on the signs Gonal-F is working covers what to expect each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Gonal-F injection hurt?
Most patients describe a small pinch. Letting the pen warm up, injecting quickly, and rotating sites keep discomfort low.
What if I see a drop of medication on my skin after the shot?
A tiny drop is normal. If it seems like a lot leaked out or the dose window did not return to zero, call your clinic rather than re-injecting.
Can I reuse the pen needle?
No. Use a fresh needle every time. Reused needles dull, hurt more, and can block the pen.
What time of day should I inject Gonal-F?
Evening is common because it fits clinic monitoring schedules. Keep the same time each night, within about an hour.
Can I order Gonal-F pens through Fast IVF?
Yes. With a valid prescription, Fast IVF ships all three Gonal-F pen strengths worldwide in cool packs, usually arriving within 3 to 5 business days. Our Gonal-F cost guide explains why European pricing runs so much lower.
Need pens for your upcoming cycle? Request a free quote and get exact pricing for every strength on your prescription.